The quirky
country
and
roots rocker
with the self-fashioned "Big Red" double-necked steel guitar always seems like he's got his tongue in his cheek, whether he's doing a travelogue tale by
Jerry Hubbard
(
"Guitar Man"
) or a hilarious spy romance fable (
"Cagey Bea"
).
Brown
and his extreme tenor have their sweeter, romantic side in full bloom here as well (
"Our First Bluebonnet Spring"
), and it's clear he has a penchant for classic Southern sounds like the
ragtime
tune
"Riverboat Shuffle."
He complements a mix of fast-paced and gently laconic originals with a folksy reading of a tune written by his idol,
Ernest Tubb
"Kansas City Blues"
). The listener might be so riveted by
's voice, attitude, and lyrical dramas that he or she might miss another of the album's consistent joys -- his potent electric guitar jamming, used well as harmony and in solo spots. ~ Jonathan Widran