- Rock
- 2009
- Buy the CD
Reviewed by Jeff Giles
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Happily, judging from Mr. Lucky, Isaak’s muse is just as energetic as it’s ever been – which is to say, if you enjoy smooth pop/rock with strong Orbison overtones, then you’re in luck, because this is a solid set of Isaak tunes, charmingly low-key and utterly retro. Lucky continues the mildly modern streak Isaak started with 2002’s Always Got Tonight – although it doesn’t feature any of the obviously electronic pop textures that album used, it does include a pair of duets with famous names (Trisha Yearwood and Michelle Branch, to be exact) and finds Isaak co-writing with infamous hitmaker to the stars Diane Warren. They’re unexpectedly commercial concessions from a guy whose music has found its way onto the Top 40 largely by accident, and they offer a glimpse at the shrewd instincts behind Isaak’s laid back, self-effacing public persona.
The album begins with "Cheater’s Town," a song whose title pretty much sums up the baby-done-left-me vibe of Isaak’s whole catalog, and whose shuffling beat and atmospheric guitar solo will go down exceedingly easy with longtime fans. As with most of Isaak’s records, Mr. Lucky doesn’t skimp on the ballads; those with a fondness for his softer side have plenty to choose from here, including the aforementioned Yearwood duet (and Warren co-write), "Breaking Apart," as well as "You Don’t Cry Like I Do," another in a long line of broken-heart laments. The latter track, in particular, begs the question of whether Isaak’s lovelorn shtick is wearing thin (or getting creepy); at this point, he’s moaned about being left so many times that it’s hard not to wonder what exactly he’s doing to all these women – or wish he’d find some new artistic ground to till.
Fortunately, that doesn’t tell the album’s whole story. Isaak actually rocks out a little here, cranking up the amps on tracks like "Best I Ever Had" and "Mr. Lonely Man," which packs some cool gang vocals in with a nifty guitar solo, and showing some flashes of humor on the slow-dance-at-the-sock-hop anthem "Big Wide Wonderful World" (dig the baritone sax!) and the Don Ho pastiche "Take My Heart." All in all, it’s a nice little record; it shows about as many different sides as Isaak has to offer, boasts an admirably consistent set of songs, and gets in and out under 48 minutes. It won’t change your life, but it’ll sound fine after a breakup or on the way to a day at the beach. In other words, quintessential Chris Isaak.
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