November 2006
Brooks
& Dunn -- Red Dirt Road
Side
Note: This is
the second in the series of three album reviews on Brooks &
Dunn.
The first album was Steers & Stripes and the third will be
Greast
Hits Collection II.
Released in Summer of 2003, this is somewhat of a good Brooks & Dunn album however as I listened to this I cain't help but to think about the disappointment I had with Tight Rope. I almost wondering if they were experimenting with this album so many different styles some new, some old...AMG described "Red Dirt Road is a bit of a concept album".
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You Can't Take The Honky Tonk Out Of The Girl. AMG say this is a Keith Richards homage and typical Brooks & Dunn 'honky tonk' style. This particular track they have done a video for and I think it was once I began seeing the video that the song finally grew on me.
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Caroline -- Well this is a rather odd piece of work, I cain't really describe it. Sorta like your typical Brooks & Dunn but still kinda odd...
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When We Were Kings -- I really liked this song which is the story of Tommy in 1960's. The style of this song reminds me a lot of Blake Shelton's Playboys of the Southwestern World.
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That's What I Get For Loving You -- Finally a traditional Brooks & Dunn slow dance song. I do believe this song has seen some radio play here in Phoenix.
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Red Dirt Road -- Tons of radio play here and this song grew on me quickly. First love, first car, first beer, first religious experience, etc all along the 'Red Dirt Road'.
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Feels Good Don't It -- Not a typical Brook & Dunn style song a bit short too at about 2:44. It's an okay song, not going to make a big hit for them though...
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I Use To Know This Song By Heart -- Umm...Okay...now they are doing a rock & roll style electric guitar and choir doing background vocals. Interesting, not one of my top picks and not really a direction I want to Brooks & Dunn heading (although I am afraid they are).
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Believer -- Don't confuse this song with Believe off the Hillbilly Deluxe album. Again the electric guitar, but not as dramatic as in I Use To Know This Song By Heart. Also have a choir doing background vocals on this song as well, but again not as dramatic. The guitar rift is catchy and about the only good thing going for this song. May be it will grow on me, may be not.
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Memory Town -- Well, at least we are back to a somewhat more traditional Brooks & Dunn...but still I have having flashbacks to the Tight Rope album of a few years back. Lyrics are good, the musical style is still odd...if I didn't know any better I would almost say there is a synthesize (or altered electric guitar) being used in this song.
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She Was Born to Run -- Ah young love and car...what more could you want from a country song? Mix in a more traditional Brooks & Dunn and this song has the makings of a hit.
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Till My Dyin' Day -- This songs sounds familiar, but just cain't figure it out. Good song, sang by Kix Brooks and at least it is country sounding.
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My Baby's Everything -- Never thought I would appreciate a Brooks & Dunn 'honky-tonk' style song, but the way the most of the songs have been on this album it is a nice and appreciate change in pace.
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Good Day to Be Me -- What the heck is this?! This sounds nothing like Brooks & Dunn. If anything it sounds like a cross between Toby Keith's I Want To Talk About Me and Billy Dean's Thank God I Am A Country Boy. Don't get me wrong it is a good song, just not something I would have imagine Brooks & Dunn doing had you told me 10 years ago.
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Good Cowboy -- Rockabilly anyone? This sounds like something Dwight Yoakam would do, not Brooks & Dunn.
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Holy War (Hidden Track) -- After hearing this I know why it is hidden...70's gospel! As far as I am concerned it can stay hidden.
The one thing that bothers me about this album and what I saw on one of the awards shows is Brooks & Dunn seem to be moving into a more Gospel direction. This album is a little better than Tight Rope but no where as good as Steers & Stripes. I can say the first 5 tracks with the exception of Caroline (it's okay) were really great. Looking on AMG, they gave it a slightly better rating than Steers & Stripes, I think it should be the opposite. AMG's picks we're Tracks #1, #5 and #15, I agree with the first two, but not the last! The last Brooks & Dunn I have to review for now will be the Greatest Hits Collections II, released in 2004.
Questions or comments about this review, use the e-mail link below.
