Customer Reviews

Tight Rope

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

B&D haven't put out anything captivating since album #2, but this CD has it's share of great songs. Even the Kix vocal songs are pretty good on this effort. Aside from the John Waite remake (which could have been left off entirely), this is a solid album, the best in awhile. Tracks like "Hurt Train", "You'll always be loved by me", and "All out of Love" are prime examples of what catapulted B&D to the top. Ronnie Dunn's vocals have never been better. A great CD if you're looking for a little less Honky-Tonk & Boot Scootin.

I am a serious Brooks & Dunn fan and Tight Rope is equal to, if not better than some of their other albums. This album was definately a change of pace from previous albums, but it is a stepping stone towards what Brooks & Dunn accomplished on "Steers & Stripes" and "Red Dirt Road". Its true that none of the songs were co-written by the duo, but they each bring some unique material to the table and they are both amazing song writers. Ronnie's voice is flawless as always, but Kix also steps it up on this album and I think that his songs are a nice contrast to Ronnie's. If given more opportunities I think some of Kix's songs could shine as singles, but he is willing to let Ronnie sing on songs that have a good chance of being hits.

Anyone out there who has liked Brooks & Dunn will enjoy this album. Ignore the critics and make up your own minds as to what is a good record and what isn't. If you don't own this album you need to buy it.

Brooks & Dunn have overdone themselves with this one...its better than their "If You See Her" cd...you'll hear that classic Brooks & Dunn in here..despite bad reviews..this is a reg in my cd player..it too ka while to get used to since maybe those reviews were in my mind subconsciously...THIS IS A GREAT CD..maybe equal to Steer's & Stripes...I gave it a bad review before but I was wrong it is very good.....incredibly good

1.Goin' Under Getting' Over You-From its honky tonk uptemp intro...full of fiddles and steel guitars...great song!!! love the lyrics too...good love song..sung by Roonie Dunn and its funny the way he says the words...I cant get over the awesome chorus and the steel guitar in it it's solo..just great..one of my fav's!!!!

2. Missing You-My second fav of this cd...great single on the radio...didn't do too good though...Dunn can sing this better than John Waite anyday!!! this song is sad though...makes me think about an old time...great fiddle and electric/steel guitar in here..the way Dunn carries a tune is terrific...one of Dunn's best!!!

3. Temptation #9-great song!!! sung by Kix Brooks..great catchy intro...love the beat....the chorus is great and very captivating..that electric guitar makes ya crazy..in a good way..then that smooth fiddle comes in...you must hear it!

4. Hurt Train-nice slow ballad with a steady beat...background vocals...really good song...Dunn sings this pain as any heartbroken person knows....

5. Can't Stop My Heart-this song is INCREDIBLE!!! very catchy tune by Kix...I think the chorus is immensely great..."o..it feels what it wants to feel..and it does what it wants to do.."..a medium paced song....electric in here too...a never-skip song on this cd.

6. Too Far This Time-A slow ballad...the beginning sounded like "Born & Raised In Black In White" ..lol....a good nice song...not my fav...but great love song...Ill tell you the truth I skip it sometimes...sung by Ronnie

7. You'll Always Be Loved By Me-woulda been the title cut...the part where it mentions the "tight rope"...a great single....I love this song....great steel!! Sung of course by Dunn...the lyrics are done downright good!

8. I Love You More-the intro isn't that good..but the chorus gets a lil better..I don't care for this one...it really depends on my mood..it has some music highlights though...sung by Kix...

9. Beer Thirty-Another Honky Tonk song!!! another fav...very country song...another uptempo-smiling rockin' country song...very Brooks & Dunn...all the instruments in here are great!!!! but a short one....good piano sound at the end

10. Don't Look Back Now-MY FAV SONG ON HERE!!! I love everything about his song..very country..great beat...the music is extremely good as well as Kix's voice in the chorus...gotta love that steel guitar!!!! a break-up song with well-written lyrics!!
11. All Out of Love- intense vocals by Ronnie Dunn...great ballad about heartaches....great steel guitar...and the music is great too..its sad too...

12. The Trouble With Angels- Kix pins this one...terrific love song...I love it all..one of my fav's!!!! the lyrics are great too!!!

13. Texas And Norma Jean- slow song by Kix again...not so catchy intro with the lyrics but the song gets better...a good song..not my fav..but a nice tune...

THIS CD IS REALLY GOOD!! a country cd that all would enjoy if they gave it a chance...it really shows off Brooks & Dunn's talent as singers and I wish it did a lot better...they are underated and this is too...youll love it if ya love Brooks & dunn..i have been a fan for very long....and they weren't walkin on a tight rope...

Includes lyrics and a cool cover...has that new cd smell that's good

After watching Brooks & Dunn perform so often on award shows, it's clear that EITHER of the TWO sings, and they rarely sing together or harmonize. That concept appears to extend to their writing credits.

Some songs have lyrics without any great definition, substance, feeling, or meaning and are simply written. Maybe I am spoiled by Ronnie Dunn's powerful beautiful moving ballad "Neon Moon" (from Brand New Man CD) because no Brooks and Dunn ballad will ever compare to that one.

Ronnie Dunn has covered John Waite's 80's song "Missing You"; it is done mediocre, and certainly not like the gifted version of his cover song from another CD "My Maria."

Kix Brooks co-wrote and performs "Temptation Number 9". "Missing You" is a rock cover song originally by John Waite. Don Cook, a longtime collaborator co-wrote "Don't Look Back Now" with Kix. It is a sweet love ballad. It doesn't appear that Ronnie Dunn is doing any vocals on these co-written by Brooks.

Probably the best song here is co-written by Ronnie and Terry McBride, a Nashville songwriter titled "Hurt Train", vocals by Ronnie. The background female vocals are superb, projecting a sound of loneliness that compliments the words of pain and loneliness. Nothing profound on this CD, and most lyrics are simple! .....MzRizz.

Tight Rope was Brooks & Dunn's seventh album in eight years and it appears that all the time spent together touring and recording was starting to put a strain on their music. Not only is this the first album where they didn't co-write any songs together, it is also the first time they used separate producers (longtime collaborator Don Cook on the tracks written by and featuring Brooks, with Byron Gallimore on the recordings performed by Dunn).

As usual, Dunn's tracks are stronger (if only due to his incredible voice). In fact, the lead-off single - a remake of John Waite's "Missing You" - works ONLY because of his searing vocals. Much better are the honkytonkers "Beer Thirty" and "Goin' Under Gettin' Over You" and the declarative ballad "You'll Always Be Loved By Me (the only single on this album that cracked the top 10)."

Brooks' 70s country rock recordings are the more interesting lyrically, particularly the Yoakam-like "The Trouble With Angels" and the pretty saga "Texas and Norma Jean." Unfortunately, his pedestrian vocals dampen their impact and one can't help but wish he'd magnaminously turn over all lead vocals duties to Dunn.

Tightrope sounds like two solo projects thrown together. The harmonies are minimal and Brooks & Dunn's trademark sense of fun is mostly lacking. The follow-up Steers and Stripes was much, much better.

Brooks and Dunn had been accustomed to success in a big way, with all their singles attaining high placings on the country charts - until the release of this album. For some reason, American country radio stations were less enthusiastic about the singles from this album. Only one of them (You'll always be loved by me, an outstanding ballad) made the top ten, with others such as Beer thirty (a great rocking country song) and Missing you (a cover of the John Waite pop classic) falling well short.

Clearly, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn were spending less time together, as they no longer co-wrote any songs together and they started using separate producers - Don Cook for Kix's songs and Byron Gallimore for Ronnie's songs. This may make for a less cohesive album but should not matter for a single released to radio. So it may just be that Kix and Ronnie did not make enough effort to promote the album via live appearances.

Whatever the reason for the failure of the singles (none of which made it to Greatest hits volume 2), this is an excellent album full of high quality music - great rocking songs and wonderful ballads. Apart from the tracks already mentioned, I particularly like Getting under getting over you (a great rocking song to open the album), Too far this time (a sad ballad), I love you more (a great ballad by Kix), All out of love (an original song, not a cover of the famous Air supply classic) and Texas and Norma Jean (a great story song by Kix), but I love the other songs too.

Kix and Ronnie must have learned why the singles from this album were comparative failures because they have resumed their successful ways with their next album, Steers and stripes, but although this may sometimes sound like a compilation of two solo albums, the music is of such quality that I love it anyway.

If you already have the two greatest hits collections (or the British compilation, Very best of), this is a great album to add to your collection, because none of the tracks here appear on those compilations. If you are building a collection of their original albums but don't have any of their compilations, I recommend starting with their first two albums - Brand new man and Hard working man. After that, the others are all of a consistently high quality including this one.

I'm not saying that Brooks And Dunn made a bad album. 'Tight Rope', however, is their weakest one. Here, what is obvious, are more than enough songs having similar tempos.

'Missing You' has really gotten a good treatment from someone other than it's writer/original artist John Waite. The vocals are splendid from Dunn, with even a neat smooth echo of Brooks on the repeated lyrics.

'Beer Thirty' is really the true sole uppety one, and is a Honky Tonkin' time! A good diggin in the dirt of guitar and meaty bass, cut into a dance boogie that they're famous for.

Brooks takes the reigns on 'Can't Stop My Heart' and cuts above the average line for material and performance. Oh, he's pretty good here. Does better on their other albums.

'You'll Always Be Loved By Me' makes a good if not slightly drippy song, same going for the moderate 'Too Far This Time'.

Even though the album has some character, it doesn't have enough. Instead, we have a pretty long ride down a straight road. And character doesn't always mean fast or loud, or so slow. Just not always the same mood. If you got heartache, and need some songs to drive or cry away your tears, then this is ideal. At least most of them give you a shoulder to cry on.

This CD would not make them superstars - lackluster, boring.
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Do yourself a favor, if you are a fan, buy a used one ..., just to have it in the collection.

I have always been a loyal follower of Brooks and Dunn. I think that "Tight Rope" is one of the best if not the best album from these great hitmakers. They give you all kinds of emotions which each and every cut. "Hurt Train", Missing You, You'll Always Be Loved By Me, just a few of the great songs on this CD. I think that they are still true to their country roots, regardless of what the critics say. Guys, you're the BEST.

If you like touching ballads, go for that CD; if you like honky tonk songs, then leave it alone. Having followed their career from the beginning, I realize that Brooks & Dunn have come a long way from the fresh and new sounding songs of their first two CDs.Today I get a slight feeling that they are running out of new material and new grasping ideas. The sound is as always immaculate, but only a few songs hook you right up like, "Hurt Train", "Too far this time" or "Don't look back now". To be honest I was slightly disappointed about their new CD. Maybe their reign as Country's Vocal Duo is over; there is a mighty fresh duo called Montgomery Gentry waiting around the corner, so Brooks and Dunn better watch out.