Smoke Rings in the Dark

 (84 customer reviews)

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.....

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...Read more

Gary really lets her fly on this CD. With two other albums prior to this that were quite good but only churned out 2 hits this CD looks to bring out much more from Gary and finally make him a bonafide star. Though he is from California Gary has a sound that is similar to those fellow Californians such as Dwight Yoakam and Merle Haggard. Strong country sound from top to bottom. The lead song "SRITD" is a haunting ballad that will hit your heart right from the getgo. "Don't tell Mama" is such a hardcore country song that it sounds just like something George Strait would put out. "Sorry and Runaway" are two songs that have a 60's feel to them that doesn't really fit into this album but they sound great. "Bourbon Borderline" is my fav. Listen to it...you'll agree. "Learning to live with me" teaches a good lesson and "Greenfields" will haunt you forever..make you think of lost loves. Go out and get this album...Read more