February 2005
Brooks
& Dunn -- Steers & Stripes
Side
Note:
This is the first in a series of three
album reviews on Brooks & Dunn. It has been nearly 5
years since I have done any reviews! While this is not the newest or
even second newest from Brooks & Dunn I choose this album
because it has some much meaning to it. I have two more
Brooks & Dunn reviews in the work including the second newest
Red Dirt Road and their newest release Greatest Hits Collection II.
This is the eighth album for the vocal duo Brooks
& Duun, also it marks their 10 year anniversary
since Brand New Man came out
in 1991. I was very disappointed with their prior release
Tight
Rope and sure hope this album would be better. The
album is packed with 14 tracks and was released in April 2001, less
than 5 months from the tragic events of September 11th. Very
ironic and almost eerie when you consider the title, Steers
& Stripes and the first track Only In
America. This album is a major improvement over Tight
Rope and some of the songs are quite interesting including Let's
Go West; Deny, Deny, Deny; Luck Me, Lonely You and I
Fall. Many of these had I heard them on the radio
would not have know it was Brooks & Dunn.
Only In America (#1), was released in early July 2001 and quickly climbed the chart to number 5 on September 4th. Many people think this song was just part of the surge of patriotic songs released after September 11th. Partially true it is patriotic, but again this was BEFORE September 11th. The songs talk about different peoples dreams centered around the theme of these two lines:
"Only in America
Where we dream as big as we want to"
The Last Thing I Do (#2), I don't know what to make of this song. It is a heavy country rock style of Brooks & Dunn that I don't care for. This is one of few songs could have done without.
The Long Goodbye (#3), a great return to the slow tempo Brooks & Dunn "love song" style. Great harmony between Kix & Ron as well as the background instruments fiddles, electric guitar and drums. The last minute of the song is instrumental with Kix & Ron harmonizing "Long Goodbye".
Let's Go West (track #4), does not sound like the typical Brooks & Dunn, but does not mean it not a good song. I was beginning to wonder if someone slipped a Blackhawk CD in to my CD player. Quick check, no it IS a Brooks & Dunn CD, but still the style and sound reminds me of Blackhawk. Kix Brooks does vocal on this song about leaving everything behind and Go West to start new. This song grew on me real fast and now is going to be on those I won't be able to get of my head!
My Heart is Lost To You (#5), is yet a new style and sound for Brooks & Dunn and has very "south of the border" sound to it. The first line of the chorus "Mi Corzon perdido en ti" (my heart is lost to you) further adds to this unique sound that only Brooks & Dunn could pull off. This song has seen some radio play, but not as much as The Long Goodbye or Only In America.
Good Girls Go To Heaven (bad girls go everywhere) (#6), catchy title but cain't say much else for the song. Again, more of heavy country rock style which I really don't care for with Brooks & Dunn.
When She's Gone, She's Gone (#7), the instrumental opening of this song is set in minor with the slow piano and fiddles sounds familiar, but just can't place it at this time. It is not until Kix & Ron start singing do realize it is a Brooks & Dunn song. Lots of background instrumental through out especially between verses. Very good song and some creative lines "Love is like the Mississippi, When She's Gone, She's Gone"
Ain't Nothing 'bout You (#8), the first single off Steers & Stripes and received tons of radio time here in Phoenix. Oddly enough, even though it is a country rock style, I like this song. Could be the vocal styling balance it out. This song kicked off the Brooks & Dunn Neon Cirrus & Wild West Show in late April 2001.
Unloved (#9), powerful vocals on another "That's Brooks & Dunn?!" type song. I can't really describe the style of this song or even think of anything that would be a close comparison. This is one that will grow on you if you are not already hooked on it from the first listening.
Deny, Deny, Deny (#10), excellent and funny song, although it has the sound and style of Sammy Kershaw. Ironically Lorrie Morgan & Sammy Kershaw released, I Finally Found Someone which has the single He Drinks Tequila (She Talks Dirty in Spanish) on the same date as this album. This song also has the "south of the border" sound with castanets and guitar but the piano style of Sammy Kershaw. Great and creative lyrics:
"Those bottles in the driveway and the bottles in the hall
Well I don't know where they came from
It must be burglars in the neighborhood
I sure hope they catch those bums
I know you've got your own version of the truth
There's only three things left now I can do
Deny, deny, deny"
Lucky Me, Lonely You (#11), or the "out-take song" (first 20 seconds). This is another Brooks & Dunn "honky-Tonk" style song, but it is not all that bad once you heard it a few time.
I Fall (#12), a very slow tempo love ballad, very unusual style for Brooks & Dunn. I kept expecting the tempo to pick up or an electric guitar solo throughout many points in this song. Another pleasant surprise on this album.
Every River (#13), opens with a mellow (somewhat similar to Dwight Yokam) electric guitar. The vocal arrangement in this song are very similar to Only In America.
See Jane Dance (#14). A Brooks & Dunn album is not complete with out a dance song. This song drove me nuts at first as they slow dance tempo and lyrics style sounded so familiar. After some research and about the fourth time around I got it, No News by Lonestar except with periods of an electric guitar solo and 1 1/2 minutes longer.
Wow, I know that
was quite the review, but was such
a great Brooks & Dunn album. Tight Rope
was a major disappointment as it did not produce any big hits for the
Duo. With Steers & Stripes, many of the
songs grow on you as do past Brooks & Dunn songs.
There are so many great songs on this album but my three personal
favorites would have to be Deny, Deny, Deny; Let's Go West
and Only in America. Reviewing Brooks & Dunn
discography, in 1997 the released the first Greatest Hits
Collection, which had three new
tracks. 1998 was the partner album with Reba McEntire If
You See Him/If You See Her, then in 1999 was Tight
Rope. In the beginning, Brooks & Dunn
would average almost 2 years between albums, but were doing almost 1 a
year in this 3 year time period. May be they finally realized
they needed to slow down and really put some effort into making a
quality album. In another two years, they would release
their next non-seasonal (It Won't Be Christmas Without You,
was released in 2002) Red Dirt Road,
which is my review for March.
Questions
or comments about this review, use the e-mail link below.
