Customer Reviews

Guit With It

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Junior Brown is the most exciting musician to come along in any genre of music for a long time. This is the cd that broke him onto the music scene back in 93, and remains one of my personal favorites in my collection.

Junior plays his own invention, the guit-steel, with amazing finesse and flair. A combination of a single pick-up Tele style guitar with an attached steel guitar, which enables him to switch back and forth between the two with ease, which adds a dimension to his music and playing never before heard.

One can hear this wizardry on such cuts as "Sugarfoot Rag," which Brown closes with a flurry of rockish style chords a la Jimi Hendrix, and the 11 minute jam "Guit-Steel Blues," in which Brown really shows off his abilities with this instrument.

Don't think that these are the only tracks in which one hears his magical fingers perform with prowess, nearly every track on the album features another example of this virtuoso's capabilities. But one must appreciate his songwriting talent as well. It varies from a traditional sound, as in the final track "The Gal From Oklahoma," which sounds as though it could have come out the dust bowl America of the 1930's, to the more humorous tracks such as "My Wife Thinks You're Dead," and "Holding Pattern."

All in all, if you appreciate good music, not just good country music, but good music as it is performed by a master of the craft, then this is the cd for you.

Junior Brown is a guitar enigma. He's a little bit country, a little bit western, a little bit rock and roll, a little bit blues, a little bit surf.... In a live show, you never are quite sure what he'll be throwing your way. One thing is for certain, you will definitely be amazed. Although "Guit With It" isn't at the same intensity as his live shows, it is still a masterpiece of dazzling finger-work on the fretboard and slide. His hybrid guitar that's half Telecaster and half pedal steel (without the pedals - he does all the string bends with his ring finger behind the slide) is a sight to behold. It's even a greater treat to watch him play it.

"Guit With It" is a playground to show off Brown's talents, and he has many. My favorite track on the album is the instrumental, "Sugarfoot Rag". A brilliant display of his flat-picking ability and fingers faster than light. He moves seamlessly between the Tele and the steel. He makes it trickier by adding vocals for the remaining songs. His voice is a low rumble that's very fitting to his playing. When Brown sings, you can't help but smile, especially with lyrics like "You're wanted by the police, and my wife thinks you're dead", which guest stars Jimmie Vaughan on guitar. His songs are full of humor and irony like "Party Lights" and "Highway Patrol", and he can even get a little romantic like the duet with his wife "So Close Yet So Far Away" and "The Gal from Oklahoma".

Brown is definitely what country should be about. Everything he plays, no matter how far he strays, still has a twinge of country to it. Even if it is Jimi Hendrix's "Red House" underneath all that "Guit-Steel Blues" or "Foxy Lady" (sorry, you'll have to catch this one live) Brown is country at heart. If you're a guitar fan, you'll have to catch Brown live just to revel in his high-energy performances and amazing guitar work. He's easily worth twice the cost of admission, and you don't even have to like country to enjoy the show...or album.

Critics are forever comparing Junior Brown to Jimi Hendrix, but Stevie Ray Vaughn is actually a much better point of reference. For Hendrix, it was guitar first, everything else came second. With Hendrix, it's like the song was part of the guitar playing. Vaughn played as good as anyone, but his playing was always part of the song. . . and so it is with Junior Brown. Take for example his letter-perfect cover of Red Simpson's "Highway Patrol"--they sound nearly identical, but Brown's version subtly manages to far outclass the original. Throughout the album, Brown manages to fit incredible guitar work inside fairly conventional, tradition-sounding country songs such as the outstanding "My Wife Thinks Your Dead," "Doin" What Comes Easy to a Fool," "You Didn't Have to Go All the Way," and "Holding Pattern," all the while drawing on a diverse repetoire of influences including country, rock, blues, and even some Hawaian Steel-style guitar. The only time Brown cuts lose and lets the guitar take over is on the indulgent 11-minute + opus "Guit-Steel Blues". . .just to show you what he could do if he wanted to, I guess. Throughout, Brown manages both to produce songs that will please fans of traditional honky tonk music without once succumbing to the now numerous cliches of the genre.

Since being introduced to the music of Junior Brown back in the mid-90s, I've become something of an addict, buying all his CDs and seeing him perform live several dozen times. Those live performances can be astounding, but that's another story. I'm not a big fan of country music, most of what passes as country today is pop with a twang. But give me Hag, give me Marty, give me Dwight and give me...Junior Brown. Junior Brown came on the scene revitalizing interest in the country genre among many who had given up. Not only that, his unapologetic Okieness together with his guitar heroics have given him an audience far beyond what a standard "country" entertainer can hope to reach. Go to one of his concerts and you'll see a real cross-section of the populace enjoying the show. On Guit With It, Brown introduces himself and his guit-steel to the wider world. He is an excellent wordsmith and many of his songs are really very funny if only because they are corny as in Party Lights. Junior shows a wicked sense of humor on Highway Patrol and My Wife Thinks You're Dead but also a romantic side as on Still Life With Rose and Gal From Oklahoma, that last being a loving tribute to his wife. Last but definitely not least, Junior shows that he can really tear it up as on Guit-steel Blues. If your taste in country music leans toward a more traditional sound yet you can appreciate someone who puts his heart and considerable skill into his musicianship, then you might just like this CD. Junior Brown is yet another Texas treasure.

When my boyfriend first brought home this CD, I wasn't too sure. I've been a die-hard Alternative fan for years, sampling this and that, but I never thought I'd be a big fan of country. I stand corrected. I am awed at Junior's talent. He makes his guit-steel sing, and he flat-picks it to boot! To say this album is good doesn't do it justice; 'inspiring' or 'amazing' might be better choices. I had no idea there were current country/western musicians who produced such a classic sound, and it's too bad more don't. Junior's rendition of 'The Sugarfoot Rag' is incredible, perhaps second only to the version he did on 'Junior High' - remember, kids, he uses a pick - and his swanky, sexy 'Guit-Steel Blues' is perfect for a rainy, sultry evening. He obviously has a funny, dry sense of humor and his songwriting blends perfectly with the covers of standards that he makes his own. This CD has not left my stereo in weeks. Trust me - even if you think you don't like country, buy this album and become a believer.

Who is this madman with the big hat and where did he learn to play like that? What an awesome cd!!! If you ever see him on Austin City Limits, you will be amazed.

Country the way it was meant to be.

Junior Brown is one of the best guitarists alive. Period. This isn't saccharine country marketed for suburbanites, and it isn't studio magic. Picking this good just can't be faked. Junior's voice is cool and his songwriting is as witty as any country legend out there. Imagine Jerry Reed and Merle Haggard introduced Jimi Hendrix to country and you'll get an idea. It's Junior's dexterity, though, that blows your mind. His unique "guitsteel" is legendary, and one hell of a cool instrument even to guitar traditionalists like me.

I've caught Junior Brown live twice now, and each time he's played better than this CD. This is one of those rare acts you need to catch at least once before you die.

Saw Junior et. al. on Austin City Limits and was slightly mesmerized. Definitely different, Junior's an acquired taste, an antidote to the poisonous commercial country that streams out of Nashville these days. Based on the quality of his playing, Junior takes his music seriously, but songs like You're Wanted by the Police and My Wife Thinks Your Dead indicate that he's not taking things too seriously. Junior's having a good time and the world needs more Juniors.

First of all, Junior Brown's a triple-threat; a stone powerhouse of a steel player, to be sure, but also the holder of a baritone that's up there with Hag and Jones and a songwriting knack for funny and sad stuff that's uncanny. All of his talents are shown to fantastic effect here. Among the high points; "My Wife Thinks You're Dead," as macabre a kiss-off to an old flame as they come; a beautiful duet with his wife called "So Close Yet So Far Away;" "The Gal From Oklahoma," a simple and heartfelt ode to a country girl; and the Jimi-Hendrix-meets-Tom-Brumley instrumental workout, "Sugarfoot Rag." Junior negotiates everything with wit, commitment and chops all to the fore. This album is worth the investment, especially if you're longing for country which isn't spelt S-H-A-N-I-A T-W-A-I-N!

This is a first rate album! With so much pap country music coming out of Nashville these days it's nice to hear that a few people still know how to tear it up and play good ole American music with power and style. One of the best thing about this recording is that its not overproduced like most studio albums are these days-- this baby is stripped down and built for speed!

If you like American music...Buy it!