CD Reviews- Dean Brody- Dean Brody

The Background:
Dean was born in Jaffry, British Columbia, and as a child he worked in a sawmill and learned how to play guitar in his spare time. He moved to Nashville in 2004 in order to pursue his dream as a country music entertainer. Dean landed a songwriting contract, but ended up having to move back to Canada before hitting on success. With the encouragement of one of the world's most famous producers, Keith Stegall, Dean moved back to Nashville and was fortunate enough to land a recording contract with Broken Bow Records in 2008.

The Review:
Country music fans who were reared on neo-traditionalist artists like Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, Tracy Lawrence, George Strait and others will find some solace in Dean Brody's album for Broken Bow Records. With 9 of the 11 tracks written or co-written by his own hand, singer-songwriter Brody has a solid set of songs that can be truly called country. Brody's debut is a throwback to the 80’s and 90s where country music's selling point was its strong melodies and thoughtful lyrics. He has developed an album that calls back to a golden age of country, but is produced and developed to be relevant to today’s country radio. Without a doubt, the crux of "Dean Brody" is Brody's scribal prowess. "Brothers" has already given Brody his first bonafide country hit. A top 10 hit in his native Canada- it starts off with a chilling drum solo and then the fiddle joins in just in time to give you cold chills down your spine. The song explores the complexities of emotions without being too sentimental in this carefully narrated ballad about a brother going off to war from the younger brother’s perspective. Other strong songs are "Gravity" a tender ballad that preaches the alluring powers of love and the fiddle-drenched "This Old Raft." Easily the best track on the album, however, is "Cattleman's Gun." It’s a new old-school Western epic tale of good guys, bad guys, morals and shoot-outs that’s engaging and marks one of our favorite tracks already into 2009. Country music is crowded with twenty-something and thirty-something guys trying to make their mark. Here’s hoping that Dean Brody finds his rungs up that ladder- we’ll all be more blessed to hear more from this terrific new artist.

Sounds Like:
Garth Brooks & Dierks Bentley

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Cattleman’s Gun
Brothers
Undone
This Ain’t The Same Town (That I Painted Red)
Gravity

The Verdict:
Four Stars Out Of Five