Paradise doesn't quite match the high-standard set
Ridin' the Hi-Line, but it's hard to deny that
Wylie and company have turned out another excellent album. Gone are the joyous whooping clarinets, and although one misses their energy, there are many fine moments here, especially
Wylie's adaptation of an old Badger Clark cowboy poem, which he sets to music for the lovely "To Her." Other highlights include
Dylan's "Girl From the North Country," the Latin shuffle of
Hank Snow's "The Gal Who Invented Kissin'," and a return to country-rock for "Hooked on Honky Tonk" and "Yodel Boogie." Elsewhere, though, the album is reminiscent of
Total Yodel! in its simplicity and lulling melodies. There is enough spice and gallop to keep his dancers moving, but the overall impression is a slower, gentler album. ~ Jim Smith