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Lyle Lovett argues semantics with new album

Writer: Rebecca Bowen
News, Published online on 01 Aug 2007

After 12 albums, four Grammys, a two-year marriage with Julia Roberts and successful recovery from a bull attack, Lyle Lovett has earned the right to argue semantics. Not that one must attain privilege to engage in linguistic debate (as proven by university sophomores) – I’m not sure what I mean by “earning” and “right” - but that’s beside the point.

Lovett just wants you to understand that It’s Not Big, It’s Large, which is the title of his thirteenth album, out Aug. 28 on Lost Highway. Nevermind that Mirriam Webster’s top definition of "big" is "large" – after all, “is” is an infamously tenuous word.

(The album is really named for the Texas-born singer-songwriter's Large Band, who recorded It’s Not Big. . . with him over the course of nine months in Los Angeles.)

Bonus: instead of waiting 5-10 years before releasing a special deluxe edition of the record, Lovett is delivering the bonus version (with DVD) simultaneously for those whose extra love and extra coin lack patience.

Tonight, Lovett and Large play the Wilma Theatre in Missoula, Mont. Before hitting up Sand Point, Idaho’s Sandpoint Festival on Saturday.

It’s Not Big, It’s Large track list:
1. Tickle Toe
2. I Will Rise Up
3. All Downhill
4. Don’t Cry A Tear
5. South Texas Girl
6. This Traveling Around Acoustic
7. Up In Indiana
8. The Alley Song
9. No Big Deal
10. Make It Happy
11. Ain’t No More Cane
12. Up In Indiana

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Lyle Lovett argues semantics with new album

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