Dwight Yoakam Tomorrow's Sounds Today CD

In-between directing a film, maintaining an acting career, launching his own website, and touring in support of the solo CD set DWIGHTYOAKAMACOUSTIC.NET, it's downright remarkable that Dwight Yoakam found the time to record TOMMOROW'S SOUNDS TODAY before 2000 ended. Despite all this activity, Yoakam's production partner/guitarist Pete Anderson came up with another outing that bucks Music Row trends while honoring country music's past without becoming nostalgic.

Throughout TOMORROW'S SOUNDS, Dwight Yoakam's rich tenor gets put to great use on songs like the Buddy Holly-inspired "Dreams of Clay" and the gritty honky-tonk of "A Place to Cry." Backed by a crack band featuring the distinctive contributions of fiddler Scott Joss and steel guitarist Gary Morse, Yoakam also impresses with tear-in-your beer laments like the seasonally themed "Time Spent Missing You" (featuring former Byrd Chris Hillman on mandolin) and the Hank Williams-flavored "The Heartaches Are Free." Highlights include a brilliant cover of Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me" in which Yoakam applies a twangy sheen to this warhorse without killing the song's spirit, and a pair of bonus Buck Owens duets.

The title has to be a goof because this album, as well as Dwight Yoakam's entire catalog, should be dubbed ''Yesterday's Sounds Today.'' Originally released in 2000, the album includes a great version of Cheap Trick's 'I Want You To Want Me'. Reprise.

Principally recorded ar The Dog Bone Studios, Burbank, California.

Personnel: Dwight Yoakam (vocals, acoustic guitar); Buck Owens (vocals, background vocals); Al Bonhomme (acoustic guitar); Pete Anderson (electric guitar, baritone guitar, percussion); Gary Morse (lap steel guitar); Chris Hillman (mandolin); Scott Joss, Don Reed (fiddle); Flaco Jiménez (accordion); Skip Edwards (keyboards); Jim Christie (drums); Jim Lauderdale, Jonathan Clark (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: David Leonard; Judy Clapp.

Recording information: NRG, North Hollywood CA; Starstruck Studio, Nashville TN; The Dog Bone, Burbank CA.

Photographer: Annalisa.

Arranger: Pete Anderson.

Personnel: Dwight Yoakam (vocals, acoustic guitar); Buck Owens (vocals); Al Bonhomme (acoustic guitar); Pete Anderson (electric guitar, percussion); Gary Morse (lap & pedal steel guitars); Chris Hillman (mandolin); Scott Joss, Don Reed (fiddle); Flaco Jimenez (accordion); Skip Edwards (keyboards); Taras Prodaniuk (bass); Jim Christie (drums); Jonathan Clark, Jim Lauderdale (background vocals).

Rolling Stone (12/7/00, p.114) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...[His] musical vision remains wholly focused on the kind of country sounds you only find these days on - well, Dwight Yoakam albums....timeless..."
CMJ (11/27/00, p.33) - "...Yoakam scatters colorful timbres throughout the album....what makes this sound like the future of country is [his] incredible ability to incorporate the music of the past into his current style."