Staff Writer

9 / 10

On Oct. 2, Brooks and Dunn released their latest country album called “Cowboy Town.” With 11 tracks on the album, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn manage to use the familiar twang of the true country voice to depict what country music should sound like.

The title track, “Cowboy Town,” relays the message of Brooks and Dunn loving the relaxed life of being country folk with saddles, steers and beers. Going for a patriotic theme with a line dance feel, the track “Johnny Cash Junkie (Buck Owens Freak)” may one day be the perfect 4th of July track.

It establishes the fact that Brooks and Dunn are proud to be Americans and proud to be from country roots. With a little comedy added in, the song would not have been complete without talking about a precious pickup truck and cowboy boots.

Varying the styles of musical sounds on the album, “Put a Girl in It” is more of a country-rock song. This track brings back the similar sounds of the 2003 song “You Can’t Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl” from the “Red Dirt Road” album.

“Put a Girl in It” is the perfect song for any guy who has just faced a breakup and needs to be reminded that there are other fish in the sea. Understanding that life brings several unexpected circumstances, Brooks and Dunn belt out the beautiful song “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.”

Far from the song “Big Girls Don’t Cry” from the pop artist Fergie, their message focuses on the relationship between a dying father and his daughter. With a slower tempo the feeling of hope is better conveyed but still gets the foot tapping.

“The Ballad of Jerry Jeff Walker” features Jeff Walker singing about how he followed his hero. He goes against his mother’s good wishes and becomes a long-haired loner.

This track is sure to be played often in the bars as it features vocal sounds closer to that of a drunk crooner. It has the perfect bar song sound. The most out of place song on the album is “American Dreamer.”

It brings out the country love ballad style. The message of the song is sweet, but has no place on an album that is more about loving the party life of a southern country person.

The track is geared to a man whose wife wants to live a happy life with kids, a nice house, and a good job, but it adds close to four minutes of dull listening.

Brooks and Dunn have done it again by offering this fun album that conveys the free-spirited country feel.

Without selling out to the pop-country sounds that have interfered with what music should sound like, the duo remain creative. For country fans and those with country roots, this album can’t be passed up.