When filmmaker
David Lynch backed a disquieting scene in Blue Velvet with
Roy Orbison's "In Dreams," he demonstrated the eerie atmosphere behind its pre-'60s innocence.
Orbison disciple
Chris Isaak played those qualities to the hilt in his shimmering, spare "Wicked Game," so it was no surprise when
Lynch included the ballad in Wild at Heart. What was surprising, given the fact that it sounded like nothing else on pop radio in 1990, was that "Wicked Game" became a breakout Top Ten hit, pushing
Isaak's accompanying album
Heart Shaped World to platinum status. Of course, there's more than that one moody masterpiece of a single to recommend
Heart Shaped World.
Isaak faithfully recreates his influences with production that's infinitely cleaner than Sun rock & roll, drawing more on its form than its attitude, but he's particularly suited to the sort of
Orbison/
Presley-style balladry that brought him a mass audience. His rich, sobbing croon is simply a gorgeous instrument, whether he's in a sonorous baritone or quavering falsetto. And he uses that instrument to tremendous effect here, coming across as a brooding romantic with a broken heart and swoon-inducing style. Of itself,
Heart Shaped World is a pretty effective mood piece, showcasing
Isaak doing a whole lot of what he does best. He does attempt a couple of rockers, but they never really rock -- much like
Orbison, it's clear that ballads are his true forte, and given the spirit
Isaak wants to channel, the numbers feel much too tame. But aside from that flaw, the rest of
Heart Shaped World is a supremely elegant late-night soundtrack, equally suited to steamy romance or solitary heartache. ~ Steve Huey