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Natural Forces Image
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The latest album for the country singer-songwriter was produced with Billy Williams.

Top Track

Natural Forces
I rode across the great high plain Under the scorching sun and through the driving rain And when I set my sights on the mountains high I bid my... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Far more than just a curator and tasteful interpreter of others’ material, Lovett once again proves he can stand alongside the finest storytellers.
  2. If you like the country side of Lovett, which is how he started in the ’80s, you’ll love this record.
  3. As before, Lyle gravitates toward gentle, moody songs, with Tommy Elskes' slyly sarcastic blues, 'Bohemia,' being the liveliest of the bunch, opting to give Natural Forces some humor and tempo through his originals.
  4. The cover tunes--written by the likes of Townes Van Zandt, David Ball, and Vince Bell--are lovely and haunting. At the same time, you may wish Lovett hadn't left all the lyrical heavy lifting to his Lone Star compatriots.
  5. Natural Forces sits comfortably next to early Lovett efforts like Pontiac--jovial, artful, and packed with deep Texas roots.
  6. Q Magazine
    60
    But on his 14th album, this spiritual cowboy ("Home is where my horse is," he sings on Natural Forces) appears to have rediscovered his adolescent side. [Dec 2009, p. 119]
  7. After these four [original] songs, Lovett sings six covers in row by writers like David Ball, Eric Taylor, and Vince Bell. Each of these songs is given tasteful arrangements, featuring a pantheon of bluegrass’s best pickers, including Sam Bush on mandolin, Stuart Duncan of fiddle, and Viktor Krauss on bass, so you know it sounds terrific, plus Lovett himself is singing as well as ever. Yet it doesn’t feel like a Lyle Lovett album.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Oct 28, 2010
    9
    Only a nine because there are few tens out there! Lyle has a full pantry and likes it that way. This effort supports his true form and whatOnly a nine because there are few tens out there! Lyle has a full pantry and likes it that way. This effort supports his true form and what he believes in. Entertaining and well done. All true fans will rate this as one of his best and the casual observer will not be disappointed either. Kudos Cowboy! Expand