Customer Reviews

Red Dirt Road

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I love the song "Red Dirt Road" and anticipated this album coming out. I have all of their previous albums and have seen them multiple times in concert. The album is very upbeat. There are few ballads on this album and Kix Brooks actually does a lot more solo singing in the songs then in previous albums. There are 14 songs plus a 15th bonus track, so you are getting a lot of music for your buck.
It is good country music on all tracks...fiddle, steel guitar, (some contemporary sound with the electic guitars), but the lyrics are very country.
My personal favorites are: Red Dirt Road, I Used to Know This Song By Heart, Feels Good Don't It, and Good Day to Be Me (this is kind of a funny song).
If you like Brooks and Dunn's previous stuff, you will appreciate this album and it's music. It is not the best work they have ever done, but it is not the worst.

For most of the 90's, there seemed to be no stopping the country duo of Brooks And Dunn. Hit album after hit album. Hit single after hit single. They were invincible. Then, in 2000, their 6th studio album, "Tight Rope", seemed to put a halt to their golden streak. It was not received well and didn't do the business on the charts like they normally did. Then along came "Steers And Stripes" the following year, and re-energized the guys and made them the kings of the charts like they once were. It seems that the new found love of the craft and the music wasn't a fluke on that album, because the fun that they re-discovered comes thru on this solid new set of songs. While many of their fellow artists don't take a whole lot of risks and don't really branch out much, Ronnie and Kix do. The music here might seem like familiar B&D, and a lot of it is, but at least there is rich diversity among the mix, as with their last album. The stylings might jump all over the map, but that's because it's eclectic. They try to do all things and to not stick to only kind of music. Thank god for that. The opening number, "You Can't Take Honky Tonk Out Of The Girl", is a perfect number to start the CD off with. It has a classic sounding B&D sound to it, and is a great mover. It also features a cool Rolling Stones/Keith Richards type guitar intro. "Caroline" is even better. It has a great groove to it and Ronnie displays that great falsetto in the chorus. Groovy and sleek. "When We Were Kings" is a pleasant song, but nothing to make you rewind. The title track, "Red Dirt Road", which is the only song the duo wrote together, might be one of their best, down home, rootsiest songs they have put together. Nostalgic lyrics with a warm musical sound. A top notch track. "Feels Good Don't it" is a happy, put a smile on your face toe tapper. Nothing more, nothing less. A jaunty little tune. One of the nicest tracks on here is "I Used To Know This Song By Heart". This will fit nicely as a single on the radio for sure. Another strong vocal performance by Ronnie, and it has am R&B-ish vibe to it that is silky cool. A wonderful track. The rest of the disc is nothing but cool fun. "Believer" is a another pleasant ditty, but nothing as memorable as earlier tracks. "Good Day To Be Me" is a fun song with lyrics that are fun to listen too. How you might not be this, and you might not be that, but you are who you are and you are just happy with that the way it is. There is a hidden track on here called "Holy War", and it may be one of the more prolific songs the duo have recorded. A nice song. Others include "She Was Born To Run", "Till My Dyin' Day", "Good Cowboy", and the real country swing of "My Baby's Everything I Love". Another gem. Kix still hasn't become an overly satisfying singer, but he gets the job done. Thankfully, as always, Ronnie masters most of the songs on the disc. This is just product?. Far from it. It's rich, it's soulful, it's sunny, it's harmonious, and it has wonderful grooves and beats. It may not be as rollicking as "Steers And Stripes", but it's a mostly up tempo collection of songs that will no doubt please fans and critics, and keep this duo as the reigning country duo of all time.

I'm a die hard Brooks & Dunn fan and I've never been disappointed with any of their albums. But Red Dirt Road just stands out above the rest. This duo isn't afraid to push the boundaries of modern country and make the music they feel they should. And the difference is clear. There is not a bad track on this album. From classic B&D (My Baby's Everything I Love) to borderline gospel (I Used To Know This Song By Heart, Holy War), there's something here for everyone. These two aren't afraid to explore their rock roots and incorporate it into their music, which I for one think is fantastic. Brooks & Dunn just continue to outdo themselves time and again. These two are like a fine wine, they only get better as time goes by.---Stand out tracks include Holy War, I Used To Know This Song By Heart, When We Were Kings, Memory Town, Red Dirt Road, She Was Born To Run.

From the opening rocker "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" to the hidden track "Holy War," Brooks & Dunn's latest CD is something new and exciting. More rockers include "Good Cowboy", "Good Day to Be Me," and "Till My Dyin' Day."

The downhome feel of "Caroline," "Feels Good Don't It," and "My Baby's Everything I Love" add to the atmosphere of a great album. The reminiscent tone of "When We Were Kings" and the title track provide an in-depth look at these guys' hearts and souls. The emotionally charged "I Used to Know This Song By Heart" is another major highlight.

Like always, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn know how to take you into the heart of their music, using brilliant production, excellent songwriting, and rugged-yet-listenable voices. "Red Dirt Road" is for B&D fans and newcomers. That basically means it's a great country music CD from a great country music duo!

I was born in the Caribbean. You don't get this kind of music in Puerto Rico. Great was my surprise when I bought this CD. The only previous Country music I own are Alan Jackson & Dixie Chicks. Brooks & Dunn have been a lovable surprise. I tought I was buying the CD just for 1 song,Red Dirt Road, I descovered that You Can't take the Honky Tonk out of the Girl,When We Were Kings,Good day to be me and 'Til my Dying Day are some of the best Country songs I've ever heard. I Highly recomend it.

Well, by golly, this is my first country CD. Red Dirt Road is not too bad of an introduction to contemporary country music. Country western purist may flinch at the influence of rock n roll on new country but as an aging Baby boomer I like it. That influence is seen on the first cut, You Cant take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl. If I am not mistaken, the opening guitar riff is straight from the Rolling Stones Honky Tonk Woman.

Brooks and Dunn avoid the corny sentimentality that plagues much of country western music. When We Were Kings, is a nostalgic look back at youth with its wild excesses. They capture the longing for the lost days of youth without being overly sentimental. The pace slows down with the love ballad, That is What She Gets For Loving Me. They deal realistically with life as it is, accepting the little things, rather than sacrificing the present hoping for a future that may never been. This ballad could have easily been overly sentimental, but thankfully, they avoid this pitfall and made an pretty good ballad out of it.

I was disappointed that the music notes did not include the title or the lyrics for the last cut. I suppose it is titled: Holy War is Coming. As a pastor I really did not know what to make of it. They seem to characterize TV preachers as preaching Armageddon. Perhaps local preachers in the south do so, but I do not know of any TV Evangelists with a national audience that do. Perhaps, Brooks and Dunn got stuck in the 1980s on this one. Great tune, but I could not figure out all the lyrics.

Yeah, it is a good CD. If you are have not a country western fan and are thinking about taking the dive into country western, this is not a bad CD to start with.

How do you followup a project that was perhaps the most diverse collection of B/D tunes ever compiled on one CD? Go back to your roots. In this case, its real easy to see where Brooks and Dunn get their roots from. With the opening Keith Richard-esque riff of "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" one can't help but think 'Honky Tonk Woman' or 'Brown Sugar'. Then, the blues-rockish opening few licks of "Caroline" seems poised for Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top to start in - we're even treated with a ZZ Top like growl. Many tunes, like the title track tell such detailed stories coupled with passionate vocals, its not hard to picture Springsteen singing a few of them (heck I can even picture Clarence playing sax on track #1).

The whole project has a 70's kind of feel to it - and why not? Tim McGraw admits he went that direction on his latest project... more and more artists are covering the Boss (Kenny Chesney "Two Steps Back" ... Faith "If I Fall Behind" ... Trisha "Sad Eyes"... and Travis Tritt "Tougher Than the Rest"). Its a formula that well targets the baby boomers as well as people who love songs that tell stories. Kix, Ronnie, and Mark Bright again bring the music up a notch - this is perhaps the most rock and roll and the best Brooks & Dunn have sounded musically in their very successful careers. I believe this is the first time I've heard horns on a B/D CD. (C'mon guys lets get bold on go on tour with ZZ Top! Bring a whole new audience to your camp!)

The only thing this project lacks is the killer ballad. "That's What She Gets For Loving Me" and "I Used to Know This Song By Heart" definately slow things down, but aren't even close to the killer slow tunes they've produced in the past. Surprising after such a great prior performance on "Long Goodbye" and "Unloved".

No matter - most B/D fans like to rock, and if you do, this one doesn't disappoint. Despite the obvious influences, B/D aren't afraid to take their music up a notch and be innovative. Don't wait - buy it and put it in your car stereo, roll down the windows, go as fast as the law allows and crank this sucker while summer and warm weather are here! (Oh ya and close your eyes and flash back to the 70's!)

I have always been a Brooks and Dunn fan. I bought this album for "Red Dirt Road", hoping that the other songs would be great and they are! This album has a nice combination of fast and slow songs. Kix and Ronnie have a knack for keeping thier original country-rock sound while continuing to move forward with new styles. I admire them for not becoming "sell-outs" and staying cool and true to country music. This is one of the best country cd's I've bought in a while. I'm always skeptical of buying a cd after hearing only one song, but Brooks and Dunn always deliver the best so I'm glad I purchased thier latest masterpiece! My personal favorite on this album is "That's What She Gets for Loving Me." I think every woman can appreciate this song! Great job, boys!

I recently purchased the new Brooks and Dunn album "Red Dirt Road" I listened to it many many times and out all of the times that I listened to it, a song called "I used to know this song by heart" stood out from all the rest, I must say that it's one of Ronnie's Greatest vocal performances I've ever heard him do.I also noticed that in the review that Alanna wrote about the Album, she mentionned Leon Russel being the writer of the song but when I noticed the writer's credits, it was written by Mr. Jerry Lynn Williams. I liked this song so much, I found his website and could not beleive the No.1 songs he has written for so many great artists. I live in St Martin FWI so I took it to a friend of mine who is the best Disc Jockey on the Island and asked him what he thought was the best song on the Album without me prompting him at all, and he also picked "Iused to Know this song by heart" . now he plays it more than 10 time a day on the only Rock Station in the Caribbean. Every time he plays it, the station's request line lights up like a Christmas tree. It is now the most popular and most requested song on the most popular Rock Station of the Caribbean.
The reason why i'm writing you today is that I own the largest Harley-davidson dealership in all the caribbean and low and behold a man walks in today , and bought a new V-Rod from me, paid cash for it.when I asked him his name for the title of the bike I almost dropped, It was Jerry Lyn Williams who is now my favorite song writer in the whole world.He told me he's living here now and we became instant friends and I found him to be one the nicest gentleman I've ever met.
so in closing I'd like to say I hope that his song "I used to know this song by heart" that he has written and Ronnie performed so elegantly is you choice for the next Single on the Album.God Bless you always , Hope that this finds you well , my best compliments to Ronnies for the great Job on his Album and especially Jerry's song...What a vocal perforance !! Sincerely ,Fadi.

Wow!! Country Music's best duo teams up again to release the follow-up to "Steers & Stripes"....Kix & Ronnie have made another incredible cd with a variety of Country with Bluegrass/Rock/Blues styles......better than Steers & Stripes...This cd is gonna be a milestone cd for the two!! This album is packed with their influences as they grew up...maybe not as honky-tonk as previous but an excellent country cd!!!

1. You Cant Take the Honky Tonk Out Of the Girl-Great song to begin this cd with!!! Ronnie sings this as best as he can..very country....Perfect up-tempo song to start with!!
2. Caroline-Another catchy tune sang by Dunn....bluegrass-rock feel to it.....makes you sing along!!
3. When We Were Kings-Hmm...this song sounded like a song I heard before...different than what they may have sang before..but very good...has great steel guitar in it!!! Kix sings this with all he can....great song to listen to!!
4. That's What She Gets for Loving Me-Good Harmonica intro..sounded kinda like "Waitin On Joe" by steve Azar at first....this one sang by Dunn...very Dunn....a good song..with a dobro...very good sound
5. Red Dirt Road-GREAT song!!! a great radio single too....rockin' electric guitar...awesome lyrics....love that steel too!! Sang by Dunn again......great song to drive with....includes Christian inspiration in here...could be gospel song too with a story of growing up.....
6. Feels Good Don't' It-I had to chuckle at the title of this one...lol....this one's instruments are great..the mix of them...sang by Dunn again...only he could sing this one!!! One of my fav's...love the chorus!!
7. I Used to Know This Song By Heart-A Ballad..sang by Dunn again...sounds very much like their "It Wont Be Christmas Without You" so it was an instant fav for me...great electric....slow blues tune
8. Believer-A Ronnie song...he sings lottsa songs on here....Very good uplifting song..like the background vocals... a choir...Dunn sings this one with incredible high notes..shows us his great voice can sing just about anything
9. Memory Town-Wow...this one sounded like "Brokenheartsville"..at first...sounds that good!!! Sang by Kix....very attractive words...mentions of a Coupe Deville....reminds how much we are blessed to have Kix on the cd too.....
10. She Was Born to Run- Yeehaw...this song is very Brooks & Dunn... sounds like a song that woulda been put out a while back....impressive chorus....music is great!!! Dunn covers this song with his best voice we remember.....again...awesome electric in here!! My favorite song on here!!!!!
11. `Till My Dyin' Day-Once it starts you can hear Brook's groovy vocals...it speeds up..the chorus is very captivating and could be played while on the beach...great beat!!!
12. My Baby's Everything I Love- POW!! man..this song is the most countriest song on here..starts out again with `all country instruments'...a hillbilly rocking song...full of fiddle's, dobro's....the steel....just a great song!!! shows that Brooks & Dunn still are full of that country spirit..good love song too.....Dunn sings this to the country core...!!! another song that mentions coupe deville's...
12. Good Day To Be Me- Another excellent intro.....a fast song by Kix....catchy words again....just a relaxing country song...too lay back and drink "a lil Crown in my Coca Cola"..even though I drink Pepsi......great electric too!!!
13. Good Cowboy- Sounds like what Tim Mcgraw what sing about lol...but very good rocker..that Brooks sings showing off that crazy side of him....great song!!
14. Holy War- A gospel song with choir vocals...talking bout tv preachers...only Ronnie Dunn could sing this....as he was gonna be one if he didn't become a singer...a great message....God would hear this from the Heavens..turn it up loud!!! a fast song just to let you know..

Man..this cd is awesome!!!!! full of uptempo songs....Brooks & Dunn still country as ever with that Rock flavor too....you wont waste yr money on here..this music was made perfectly for country music!!! includes lyrics...barely readable though....GReat cd cover too!!