Review

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, All Music Guide