Chris Isaak | Speak of the Devil | CD

Personnel includes: Chris Isaak (vocals, guitar); Hershel Yatovitz (guitar, vocals); Rowland Salley (bass, vocals); Kenney Dale Johnson (drums, vocals); David Palmer, Jamie Mahobric, Matt Chamberlain, John Pierce, Patrick Warren, Steve Ferrone, Curt Bisquera, Jimmy Pugh, Frank Marti, Mark Needham, Cynthia Corra, Mary Dunaway, Juolie Lorch, Wendy Waller, Terry Wood.
Producers: Chris Isaak, Erik Jacobsen, Rob Cavallo.
All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.
Personnel: Chris Isaak (vocals, guitar); Hershel Yatovitz (vocals, guitar); Kenney Dale Johnson (vocals, drums); Rowland Salley (vocals).
Audio Mixers: Chris Lord-Alge; Mark Needham.
Photographer: Melanie Nissen.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Curt Bisquera; Wendy Walker; Frank Martin; Jimmy Pugh; John Pierce ; Matt Chamberlain; Patrick Warren; Terry Wood; Steve Ferrone.
Gorgeous and vibrant, SPEAK OF THE DEVIL boasts the strong crooning of Chris Isaak backed by the full-bodied, twanging guitar that's made his music such a distinctive pleasure since the mid-'80s. Isaak's focus on love and the different phases of relationships means that songs range from the built-up desperation in "Please" to the airy optimism of "Flying," punched up by chirpy background singers.
Silvertone (whose collective name is unacknowledged here) continues to be the most underrated back-up band in the biz, with their distinctive rootsy mix of blues, rockabilly and country. Hershel Yatovitz's shimmering guitar is pumped with reverb to add the proper urgency to "Wanderin'" and he contributes Spanish-flavored acoustic guitar to "Don't Get So Down On Yourself." But for all the smoldering edge that Isaak puts on slower songs such as the enticing "Talkin' Bout A Home," the Californian excels on faster numbers like the swinging "I'm Not Sleepy." Isaak's adventurousness leads him to end the album with the noirish instrumental "Super Magic 2000," complete with Peter Gunn-like tempo and solid surf-guitar adornments mixed with chirping crickets and blasting shotgun sound effects.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Rock and Pop
• Released: 9/22/1998