Singer/guitarist/actor seeks SWF to indulge in "Cool Love." Likes: Watching Showtime, listening to Roy Orbison, taking it nice and slow. Dislikes: girls into "Wicked Games."
This disclaimer was not posted on the cover of Chris Isaak's fine new album "Always Got Tonight," but maybe it should have been. Throughout his career, Isaak has made music with very "guy" influences (Orbison, Lyle Lovett, Elvis) for the ladies. True, his biggest hit, "Wicked Games," is among the likes of "Hot For Teacher" and "Virtual Insanity" as songs that just aren't the same without the video. But, like most of Isaak's work, it has a timelessness that has helped him hover over the mainstream with a likeable quality that does wonders for the females - not to mention his dreamboat status.
Guys, if you have any Chris Isaak albums, go out and get this one. But mothers, lock up your daughters, because "Always Got Tonight" has taken on the form of a guy trying to win over the ladies in a smoky, collegiate bar. Watch out.
He steps in the room, and you give him the once-over. His look is a little bit country, a little rock 'n' roll, but his hat is on backwards. Classic and clean cut, but with a modern twist thrown in. All in all, not very threatening.
"Don't tell me that you love me / Or that you'll never leave me / Give me one day in your life." This is the first thing he says to you, and for a moment you're a little worried that he is indeed the jerk you saw rolling around on the beach with that hottie a while back. It's a trick, though. He's mocking the usual bad pick-up line you're used to. Things are off to a good start, and it gets even better when you catch him grooving on Sugar Ray's "Someday" ("Let Me Down Easy" is much more advanced lyrically, though).
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He gets to talking, and as your time with him passes, you realize that he's had a lot of problems with the ladies in the past, and he's almost overly candid in talking about them. If he can't get the girl, then what chance do other guys have? "I worked it out wrong," he explains of his last relationship, and you allow him to reveal a vulnerable side of him that's very endearing. He's a lot more clever than your average weepy boy ("Courthouse"), and he's a lot more optimistic too, despite all the sob stories he has at his disposal ("Life Will Go On").
But then a classic rock groove makes its way through the noise, and Isaak gets to show his funkier side. "If you love me / It really isn't wrong / We've always got tonight," he whispers, and you're actually kind of glad he's put away the nice-guy shtick for a couple of minutes.
But after things heat up a bit, you decide to go to the restroom. "I just got burned again," Isaak mutters to himself on the topic of "Cool Love," and for a while, things are back to normal. That is, until he decides to be more aggressive, showing his best Beck moves on "Notice the Ring."
Unfortunately, maybe he's had one too many by this point, as he slurs "I'm the original American boy" and refuses to elaborate on why exactly this is true. Maybe he's just trying to be funny, but he comes off more cocky than humorous. You try to get him to enjoy the new-Nashville country you've been listening to, but he just seems uncomfortable, despite what he said before.
But as with the other minor mistakes he's made tonight, he follows up strong, looking deep into your eyes and asking you if you've ever had "Somebody To Love." Perhaps this is when he'll finally try to seal the deal. Yet, he's surprisingly upbeat as he leaves, claiming he has "Nothing To Say" and walking out with a smile.
The door closes, and you try to evaluate the experience. "Always Got Tonight" was very approachable and charming. You wouldn't mind showing it off around your friends, and especially your parents.
And it was nice. Real nice. Maybe too nice. It was most likeable when on the verge of making a major move. Perhaps if you were older, you could learn to settle down with "Always Got Tonight." But until then, you spot the guys from Crazy Town and the night is far from over.
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