When I bought Marty Brown’s fourth album Here’s to the Honky Tonks when it was released in 1996, little did I know I would have to wait more than twenty years for a new official release from a record company. Since I lamented his disappearance from the national music scene on Chimesfreedom in a 2011 article, Brown has returned to the national scene in a number of ways, including a successful run on America’s Got Talent in 2013. And now, after the release of some outstanding independent releases in the last several years, he has a wonderful new full album, American Highway (2019). The album features a range of music styles and includes several immediate classics.
The album, released by Plowboy Records, features ten songs Brown co-wrote with Jon Tiven (including one with Marty Brown Jr.). Tiven also co-produced the album. Although Brown is probably best known for traditional country songs, here he shows off his vocal and songwriting strengths with a range of styles. While his voice always adds a country touch, on this album Brown croons, he rocks, he inspires, he breaks your heart, he shakes, he gets the blues, and he shows he knows his way around a catchy pop song.
Marty Brown Rocks
The album includes tracks that are perfect for a live show. One may imagine Brown closing a performance with a couple of the rockers, which include “I’m On a Roll (Better Than It’s Ever Been),” “Shaking All Over the World,” and “Right Out of Left Field.” The latter song even ends with Brown saying, “Don’t forget to turn out the lights” over a driving guitar, leading one to imagine him walking offstage. Throw in “When the Blues Come Around” as an encore, and you can practically see the lighters and cell phone lights swaying in the crowd.
These are all solid songs. “Shaking All Over the World” and its “Na-na-na na’s” sounds like it could have been on a Bruce Springsteen album. “I’m On a Roll,” co-written with Tiven and Marty Brown Jr., further shows Brown’s songwriting skills run in the family.
The talking blues “Casino Winebego” tells a fun story with a great groove. The first single, “Umbrella Lovers,” is a sweet love song inspired by when Brown got caught in the rain with his wife Shellie while they were in New York City.
The opening title track “American Highway” aims to be an anthem with a catchy chorus. One reviewer, who loves the album, has complained that this song’s cliches and flag-waving are “lazy.” Inspired by the highway near where Brown lives, a song with “America” in its title in 2019 creates certain expectations. So I can see a fan wishing that this song included additional verses to encompass a broader portrait of the country. But I still find myself singing along.
Three Instant Classics
“Kentucky Blues” is an immediate country classic. It is a beautiful song about heartbreak: “My baby’s gone and I’m all alone / I’ve got those Kentucky blues.” Select this one on the jukebox and it would make George Jones cry in his beer (as well as want to record the song). Perfect.
The album ends with two songs with great pop-country hooks that show off Brown’s talented singing voice at its best. “Velvet Chains” is a beautiful lament of one leaving his lover behind.
Brown’s songwriting often justifies comparisons to another talented songwriter who knew his way around a catchy hook, John Denver. Here, one may see Denver’s influence on the thematic elements of “Velvet Chains,” inviting comparisons to Denver’s “Leaving On a Jet Plane” (and perhaps some connection in the title to Denver’s “I’d Rather Be a Cowboy (Lady’s Chains)”).
And then there is “Mona Lisa Smiles.” After repeated listening of the album, I have fallen for this song.
“Mona Lisa Smiles” is a beautiful song about changing times, mortality, and the persistence of art. Recounting the temporary nature of our lives and everything in it, the singer reminds us, “Still, through it all/ From her frame on the wall/ Mona Lisa Smiles.”
When the strings back up Brown’s powerful voice, you know that like Mona Lisa, he is a survivor. Black Francis (former frontman of the Pixies and who many years ago recorded a fantastic duet with Brown) also provides backing vocals. This one is a fantastic song and recording.
Marty Brown Perseveres
Overall, American Highway is a great return to form and a worthwhile addition to Brown’s other classic albums. If I had one complaint, it would be that the album only has ten songs, especially considering Brown has many great songs that have yet to appear on an album. Among that group, he has a number of songs I consider to be among the greatest country songs of the last thirty years, including “Leaving Side of Me,” “The Devil Was an Angel Too,” and “My Love Will Follow You.” Another great song, “Whatever Makes You Smile,” did appear on Brown’s excellent privately released album, Country Strong in 2013.
That is a small quibble, and I realize that there may be legal rights issues to these unreleased songs. But I want more, and I want the world to hear more. The more Marty Brown music in the world, the better.
The music industry has changed drastically since Brown’s 1990s albums. When Brown last released an album through a record label, you could easily go to a record store and buy the CD. And many artists could make a living selling records. Neither is true today.
In today’s streaming and digital world, albums play a different role in an artist’s career. But we are lucky that Brown survived to provide his fans with another outstanding album and that he continues to perform.
His art lives on. And Marty Brown makes us smile.
What do you think of American Highway? Leave your two cents in the comments.
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