Red Dirt Road

Brooks & Dunn

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 15, 2003)
• Original Release Date: July 15, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B00009V7TD
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,990 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Having stumbled in 1999 with the lackluster Tight Rope, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn picked themselves up and dusted off their Wranglers with 2001's Steers and Stripes, an album that some listeners considered their best. But that was before Red Dirt Road, a collection of coming-of-age songs in which country's most successful duo comes clean about who they are and what forged their turbo-tonk sound. The title song is a spectacular and poignant slice of backwoods Southern milieu that melds the push of the gospel with the pull of desire--which, for a '60s teenager, meant girls, cars, and the beer-laced taste of freedom. Both men know a little bit about those subjects (don't miss Dunn's hidden track, "Holy War," which skewers TV preachers), as well as the thrill of Exile on Main Street-era Rolling Stones, a sound that permeates at least three songs here, including the randy "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl." Bluegrass also gets a strong nod on the exquisite "Caroline," as does the Tulsa-bred, Leon Russell-fueled music that personally schooled Dunn in the '70s, particularly on "I Used to Know This Song By Heart," a tour de force of sharp Pentecostal vocals punctuated by the searing guitar work of Kenny Greenburg. Everything about this album moves the duo up a level, even Kix's singing on "When We Were Kings," a true-life remembrance of the Vietnam years. A few songs predictably pad things out, but on the whole Red Dirt Road is both surprisingly affecting and monstrously good. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Taking The High ' Road ', August 9, 2003

By	Barry "Barrybgb" - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Typical Brooks and Dunn Album...some good, some not so good, July 24, 2003

By	K. Roth (Columbiaville, MI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take a trip on the Red DIrt Road..., July 15, 2003

By	DanD - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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!