Lyle Lovett

The natural forces on Lovett’s latest are old-hand Texas songwriters such as Eric Taylor and Townes Van Zandt, salt-of-the-earth sages whose thoughts on life and love seem about as elemental as dirt. Lovett pairs selections from their songbooks with a handful of originals that betray his artier, more knowing tendencies. In “Pantry,” for instance, he pulls off an extended foodstuff metaphor (“Keep it in your pantry,” the punch line goes), while “Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel” reveals the singer’s evening plans over a jumping string-band beat. “I’m gonna choke my chicken till the sun goes down,” he crows. Um, sounds like fun?—Mikael Wood

Lyle Lovett plays the Beacon Theatre Wed 4.

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