Search - Gary Allan :: Smoke Rings in the Dark

Gary Allan's haunting title track hit's you where you live!

01/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Smoke Rings in the Dark on a highway in Southern Tennesee right at dusk...let me tell you it nearly sent me into a tree. Imagine how disgusted I was to learn I'd have to wait two weeks until the CD came out! It was well worth the wait...and then some! I simply love every song on this third CD by Allan. The best is, of course the title track, but "Don't Tell Mama..." had me in tears. "Sorry" and "Runaway" are two bonified 60's songs...one really is, but the other, "Sorry" has that be-bop feel and it also has that "got even with that old two-timin', good for nothin', broke my heart woman" to boot! "Cryin' For Nothin'" and "Lovin' You Against My Will" are as good as New Country gets. My recommendation is: Buy this CD, sit back in a dark room, light 'em if ya got 'em, draw a cool one and drift....."

Allan's Best Release To Date

James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 09/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gary Allan got off to an inauspicious start in the record business with only one top ten country hit on each of his first two albums ("Her Man" on 1996's USED HEART FOR SALE and the title track of 1998's IT WOULD BE YOU). SMOKE RINGS IN THE DARK from 1999 was Gary Allan's critical and commercial breakthrough, containing a more polished production as well as a distinct sound that was lacking on the first two releases. It also produced three hit singles. A retro feel permeates throughout SMOKE RINGS IN THE DARK. The highly atmospheric title track and its sparse companion piece "Lovin' You Against My Will" musically remind one of Allan's fellow Californian Chris Isaak (Allan's vocals recall Tim McGraw, albeit more raspy and tuneful). The zoot suitin' boogie of "Cowboy Blues" and "Sorry" seemingly pay homage to alt-twangers kd.lang and Lyle Lovett as much as 80s rockers the Stray Cats. Allan's use of weepy guitars throughout this album is particularly effective on his cover of Del Shannon's "Runaway," an update that improves on the original while remaining faithful to its arrangement. The declarative "Right Where I Need To Be" reached the country top 5 and was Allan's biggest hit on the cd. Its meld of traditional country with beefed up production values is more typical of what is found on Allan's 1991 follow-up, ALRIGHT GUY, which was even more commercially successful than SMOKE RINGS IN THE DARK (if not quite as musically diverse and sensual/moody)."

Heard it on a late night TV show!

Keith Jefferies | Sherman Oaks, CA United States | 03/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This isn't really a review, since I've only heard a bit of the album, but...I'm not the biggest country fan, but I really enjoy those "listen to it while you drive in the desert at dusk" songs while wearing my cowboy hat. I heard Smoke Rings in the Dark on a late night TV show (the one with James Brolin as a Marine). Dropped what I was doing when I heard that song come on. Prayed that the credits wouldn't pass by too fast so I could figure out was this a studio musician or a whole new talent. Was overjoyed with the little ad at the end that told me what album this was and who he was.Gave me this chills like Roy Orbison and Chris Isaak. I just ordered the album, and will give my full review when I receive it. I listened to the samples on here, and cannot WAIT to receive the album. Everyone keeps saying "haunting", and I'm sorry, but that is the word. The lyrics touched me, the sound touched me, his voice too."