Dwight Yoakam’s 1986 Guitars, Cadillacs… etc. etc. infused Bakersfieldstyle twang into the New Traditionalist trend then sweeping a country scene weary of frothy country pop. Two years later, he revived the career of long-time hero Buck Owens with their hit duet on “Streets Of Bakersfield.” 3 Pears, his first album of new material since 2005, reflects Yoakam’s consistency, compositional gifts, and taste in covers as he moves between neo-traditional country; roots music, classics, and other retro-based forms.

On many tracks, Yoakam alone handles guitar duties. That includes “Take Hold Of My Hand,” an aggressive original he began writing two decades ago and completed with Kid Rock’s assistance. On it, Brian Whelan added pedal steel. Sheer whimsy dominates the loopy original “Waterfall” while “Long Way To Go” sits in a zone between country and rock.

Two numbers have ’60s overtones. A period shot of John Lennon wearing three pairs of sunglasses inspired the title song and “A Heart Like Mine,” one of two tunes co-produced by Beck at his studio, has an obvious garage band feel.

The sole Bakersfield shout-out is a chugging arrangement of “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud Loud Music).” Joe and Rose Lee Maphis wrote it after watching Buck Owens, then only a local star, onstage at Bakersfield’s famous Blackboard Cafe. Here, Jason Falkner adds steel with Eddie Perez on lead guitar. Falkner does both bass and guitar honors on “Missing Heart.”

By contrast, “Long Way To Go” features only Yoakam’s voice and Whelan’s piano. The two bonus tracks – covers of Johnny Cash’s “Ring Of Fire” and the Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody” – get full band treatment.

3 Pears affirms Yoakam’s maturity and reaffirms the edginess that made him compelling over a quarter-century ago.

This article originally appeared in VG‘s Jan. ’13 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.