By Joe Ross
— When Junior Brown’s twangy “Hang Up and Drive” opens his new EP album, Volume Ten, you hear an element of Dave Dudley’s “Six Days on the Road.” However, if you think this six-song project is all retro truck-driving country music, think again. While the opener is a variation of honky tonkin’ country that lyrically captures a trucker’s lifestyle, the next cut “Apathy Waltz” (with just guitar, bass and voice) is a humorous and jazzy song about desensitization and detachment.
Junior Brown’s bass voice tells us about your “play button being stuck on pause.” With today’s information overload, I can particularly relate to his verse about computers, keypads, cell phones, WiFi, cameras and “sci-fi style picture-phone Skype-sa-call….” The song ends with Junior’s big yawn, but it’s anything but boring.
“I’m Headed Back To Austin Tonight” is pure unadulterated western swang with Junior’s steel guitar and piano in the forefront. I was overjoyed to hear fiddle finally make its appearance about two minutes into the song, but I was a tad disappointed to not hear any vocal harmony on the chorus or hook.
A new story song, “The Phantom of the Opry,” relates the secret life of a country musician living in the basement of an old opry house since 1975. Like that phantom, Junior believes in keeping his music “sweet and clear, the way they played it here on Saturday nights.” But Junior is no ghost or relic from another life, and his music is both classic and contemporary.
A popular concert draw, the larger-than-life artist has built a legion of fans who enjoy his low voice, twangy double-necked “Git-Steel,” witty humor, smart songs and classic-styled presentation. “Trust Me” is slow country blues with a pointed reference to Tricky Dick. Closing the album instrumentally, Buddy Charleton’s “Almost To Tulsa” sounds like a jam, but gives all the musicians a chance to showcase their talents. It’s the only cover on the album, and the late Charleton would be happy that Brown’s finally recorded the piece.
I remember first seeing Junior Brown and band when they appeared at our “Music on the Halfshell” series in Roseburg, Oregon. I immediately understood the phenomenon of this unique individual who celebrated his 60th birthday in 2012. Based in Austin, Texas, the award-winning Brown has been at it for more than five decades, and he clearly knows what it takes to entertain and get people up dancing. He’s a legend, and I only wish he’d give us more than six songs on future volumes. But this is his first release in seven years, so we should be happy at that.