Breakin' Wild Horses by Gene Brown Country

Gene Brown is most definitely 'country', and this much overdue album of his work, certainly proves the point.

Gene Brown 'Country' delivers the kind of album that country traditionalists will devour. Gene Brown writes 'em and sings 'em 'country', with a vocal style that will remind you at times of Johnny Paycheck and at other times of Faron Young. He supports his singing and songwriting here with his own tasty steel, dobro and bass guitar licks and it's all wrapped up with some straight-ahead country arrangements and production touches by Bob Hamilton (of Undertakin' Daddies fame).

There are several highlight moments here, but nothing compares to the hurtin' country tune The Kind Of Man. This is a "killer" song penned by Brown (worthy of a Haggard or Jones cut), and on this particular effort, Gene Brown sounds eerily close to the late Mel Street. If Canadian 'country' radio is looking for the real thang, they'd better click into this one.

Also of special interest here is Funky Rock And Roll, and although the song is somewhat dated in its message, the tongue-in-cheek lyrics, the ballsy delivery and the sincerity of it all, makes this one of the better cuts on the package.

Other entries of note include the whimsical Round The World, with it's Marty Robbins 'island' flavor; Takin' Life Easy (which Faron Young devotees will be especially fond of); and The Truest Kind Of Woman, on which Gene Brown is able to evoke memories of the late Johnny Darrrell. A novelty tune, Harvey's (about a jewelry salesman) is also notable. In fact there's really not a 'miss' among the ten selections presented here.

Breakin' Wild Horses was produced and recorded at Bob Hamilton's Old Crow Studios in Whitehorse, Yukon; and features in addition to Brown's own guitar work, some truly remarkable lead guitar stylings by Real Fagnan (remembered for his days as a member of Terry Carisse's Tracks unit); and some fiddle magic by Calvin Volrath... all of which makes the album a 'country' delight.

Through the years Whitehorse (Yukon) has given us such balladeers as Al Oster and Hank Karr, and more recently the Juno nominated Undertakin' Daddies...you can now add Gene Brown 'Country' to that list of 'northern stars'.

For info / copies visit

www.genebrowncountry.com

www.caribourecords.com

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Average Customer Review: 5