In Others' Words is a contract fullfiller, or just
Reprise attempting to cash in on
Dwight Yoakam once more. For those fans of
Yoakam's who buy his studio records and get frustrated at the sheer number of compilation and
soundtrack cuts he has, this might do the trick to satisfy in lieu of a new album. Here are ten tracks culled from the various
soundtracks and tribute albums
Yoakam has participated in throughout the 1990s. In addition, there is one unreleased track, unavailable anywhere but here. Musically speaking,
Yoakam puts the same amount of effort into his guest appearances.
"Cattle Call," his cut from the
Horse Whisperer soundtrack album, is every bit as satisfying as the material on his own album
Gone.
"Truckin," from the
Arista label's
Deadicated CD, is a classic as is his cover of
Bill Monroe's
"Rocky Road Blues." In addition, his read of
Merle Haggard's
"Holding Things Together" from
Tulare Dust was one of that album's finest moments because of
Yoakam's down-cold delivery of the
Bakersfield phrase. As for
"Louisville," the lone new cut, it's a mid-tempo honky tonker with more acoustic instruments than electric -- particularly the ringing dobro and shimmering mandolins.
In Others' Words is far from a stellar set but does fill in the gaps nicely. ~ Thom Jurek