Lyle Lovett is one of those guys who tries to keep in touch, even if he doesn't write much. Since 1998, the idiosyncratic Texas singer-songwriter has issued a live CD, a covers set, a soundtrack and two compilations.

But his latest entry My Baby Don't Tolerate is, believe it or not, his first album of all-new songs in seven years. That's more than enough to make it essential for Lovett's patiently faithful fan base.

Luckily, however, there's plenty about these 14 cuts that will also endear them to the casual follower of Lovett's quirky career.

My Baby Don't Tolerate packs all the musical sophistication, gentle melody and witty literacy that define Lovett's best work, but without the silly eccentricity that sometimes mars it. In other words: There are no songs about penguins here.

Just 56 straightahead minutes of snappy honky-tonk, zippy country swing, woozy blues, rich gospel and laid-back numbers about pickup trucks, gals from San Antonio, Saturday nights and good ole boys named Danny Ray -- all voiced in Lyle's downhome, butterscotch twang. Our biggest quibble: Two of these songs were first released on 2001's Anthology Vol. 1, which makes you wonder how old the rest of this material is.

Granted, that doesn't diminish My Baby Don't Tolerate in any way. But it does make you wish yet again that Lyle would write more often.

Track Listing
1. Cute As A Bug
2. My Baby Don't Tolerate
3. The Truck Song
4. In My Own Mind
5. Nothing But A Good Ride
6. Big Dog
7. You Were Always There
8. Wallisville Road
9. Working Too Hard
10. San Antonio Girl
11. Nashville
12. Election Day
13. I'm Going To Wait
14. I'm Going To the Place