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The Vancouver Courier
"Graham Brown's new CD (Good 'n Broke) is
everything right about the melding of country with
rock & roll. The disc is a rollicking
delight that tips a jar to Dylan's (Highway 61)
era, post Byrd Gram Parsons and Neil Young's
work with Crazy Horse. Brown's band The Prairie
Dogs - Drummer Mark Gruft and bassist Mark Gibbs -
provide the perfect foil for his stinging telecaster
work and harmony glazed vocals. Regardless of
style, there is no doubt that, (Good 'n Broke) is as
good as it gets, major label or otherwise.
(The Vancouver Courier - Vancouver -
Greg Potter)
Americana
Magazine - UK
"Graham Brown is a singer / songwriter from
Canada and "Good 'n Broke" is his 5th CD for
Stomp Records, accordingly already boasting an impressive
back catalogue of well-received country-rock.
While some Americana is pensive and holds back on
anything you might describe as "full blown,"
Brown shows no such restraint - the comparisons with
Neil Young are more than justified, and not just
stylistically either. From the kick off (Already
Done) races it's way into your consciousness before the
end of the first listen with it's real driving guitar
and Brown's infectious vocals. Brown's songwriting
isn't over-introspective, but he has a great knack for
writing a tune. Whether it's (Shotguns, Cacti
& Vengeance) with it's resilient and unforgiving
pace, or the more Neil Young-esque …. (Angel Heart)
with it's wonderful chorus and harmonica, the songs
stand up by themselves against the strength of only one
another. The lyrics too sometimes soar -
"Ride the shapeless wind soon to be betrayed, Every
fool's a king and every king's a renegade."
(Wild Emotion) As with the track in point, there are
points where the country becomes more prolific than the
rock, but they work well too. In fact listening, it's
hard to imagine what areas Brown isn't consummately
talented in. With clear, open hearted, wonderful
songs, IT'S A MUST BUY.
(Americana
Magazine - UK - Mark Whitfield)
Vue
Weekly - Edmonton
"Brown writes songs that, when played with a
full ensemble, the listener knows they'd be just as
powerful on a single acoustic guitar. An
incredibly honest songwriter, penning songs that are
down-home and true. Good 'n Broke just might be
Brown's best effort to date. The disc begins with
a couple of scalding country-boogie numbers - Brown's
devil-may-care delivery of the albums lead track
"Already Done", grabs the listener by the
throat right from the get-go. "You can write
me care of stupidity", Brown howls over a flurry of
western-tinged guitars. "You can send it to a
fool like me". "Prairie Smile" is a
joyous guitar, organ and bluesy harmonica jaunt, with
Brown extolling the virtues of making the regular trip
back home. While the album has more than its share
of touching moments, moving from the electric to the
acoustic with ease, Brown stands out as a songwriter who
knows when and when not to take himself too
seriously. With Good 'n Broke, he has created
an
Alt-Country record that simply demands to be heard."
 (Vue
Weekly - Edmonton - Steven Sandor)
Alt-Country
Heaven Magazine - Holland
Alt Country NL has made a real discovery, Graham
Brown is his name. Now there are probably a
few of you who think (oh well) we know him already, but
as long as he has not appeared on this site, he is new
blood. Ha! He comes from Canada where he is known
as a country-rock with pop influences,
singer/songwriter/guitarist. After National Dust, this
is a very pleasant surprise for the ears. Brown
is convincing as a singer and as a rock
guitar player, which is seldom in the world of the singer-songwriters.
Think of Bob Dylan (the source) The Beatles (Melody),
Springsteen (Rock), Mellencamp (Folk), Tom Petty and and
the Cash Brothers (Harmony), Impressive isn't it.
And don't think that after 5 songs Brown runs out of
great material as most others do. Again and
again he knows how to surprise the listener,
if not with a contagious chorus, then with a sweeping
guitar solo or both at the same time as in "Got To
Go", one of the many highlights on this
record. "Good 'n Broke" remains
impressive through the last song, where Brown closes
the disc with a solo Dobro tune on which Graham's
qualities as a highly talented string master are
confirmed again. One Hell Of A Record.
(Alt-Country
Heaven Magazine - Holland - Bart Ebisch)
Freight Train Boogie Magazine - USA
"First, let me say that anyone who titles a song
"Shotguns, Cacti & Vengeance" gets
a couple of points right off the bat. When that
same person manages to gather a band and a bunch of
songs that are this good, well let's just say this
band won't be lacking for stars at the end of the
review. Brown hails from Canada which is the home
of one of my favorite bands, Blue Rodeo, and has a
rich country heritage of which Brown is sure to play a
part in years to come. A songwriting mix of Robert
Earl Keen and Tom Petty, Brown's songs are
always hopeful despite the misfortune suffered and
caused by his main characters all the while bolstered
by melodies as hummable and memorable as a
nursery rhyme. A master storyteller and
surprisingly adept at jumping from blistering rock to
Bakersfield breakdowns, Brown has managed to release
a record that should wind up on many (Best - of's) at
the end of the year. GREAT DISC!!"
(Freight Train Boogie Magazine - USA -
Scott Homewood)
Comes
With A Smile Magazine - UK
"Vancouver based Graham Brown has
completely eluded my attention until now even though he
has been churning out albums with a number of outfits
and solo since the mid 80's. (Good 'n Broke) is
his 2nd solo album and a fine one it is too.
It's not that unreasonable to assume that he's had to
struggle, as many Canadian artists have, with the
attention lavished upon the music originating from their
southerly neighbours, which is often regarded with more
credibility than it necessarily deserves. Perhaps
the dogged good-natured persistence of Graham Brown and
other similarly talented bands already praised in these
parts like Radiogram and Flophouse Jr., will help swing
the balance more favourably in the future, although
sadly in reality that most likely won't be the
case. Fortunately though what many bands would
regard as debilitating apathy probably won't effect
their resolve and they will continue to make music for the
appreciative few who will grow in number as the
word begins to spread. Good 'n broke
might not be groundbreaking or all that alternative, But
damn it's good stuff, that's nigh on
impossible to fault. There is no stellar
line-up of guests in support and no big shot producer in
the chair, but Graham Brown doesn't need them.
He's got a big heart, catchy, well written songs,
great musicians to back him up, whether you've heard of
them or not. If you have ever had even a passing
affection for a little twang, rockabilly swagger,
bluegrass or rousing guitar pop as performed
by the likes of Neil Young, Tom Petty or Freedy
Johnston then Graham Brown deserves a space in
your collection. And who could possibly resist
a song called "Shotguns, Cacti &
Vengeance". Not Me."
(Comes
With A Smile Magazine - UK - Geraint Jones)
Exclaim Magazine - Canada
"This is Brown's second solo outing after a
string of releases with Jr. Gone Wild, Brilliant Orange
and Happyman. The immediate attraction is Brown's
stinging guitar playing, the first song
"Already Done" sets the tone with an orchestra
of chiming Telecasters. The album continues with
Wild West recklessness, the odd two-stepper and a dusty
tear-jerker thrown in for good measure. It's the
usual logistics of living in Vancouver that has
prevented Brown from becoming widely known, but "Good
'n Broke" already ranks as one of the best roots
rock albums to come out of Canada this year.
Brown simply has a knack for writing solid tunes and
plays guitar like a demon."
(Exclaim Magazine - Canada - Jason
Schneider)
The
Georgia Straight - Vancouver
Some folks remember Graham Brown from his previous
bands, Brilliant Orange and Happyman. I'm not one
of them, so I will just have to judge (Good 'n Broke)
on it's own merits, which are plentiful.
Brown's chosen genre is roots/rock where he does
a fine job, through his singing, lyrics,
and tasty, blues-informed guitar-playing, of
evoking wide-open skies and endless flatlands.
Indeed, Brown's yearning for the Alberta of his
childhood gives the disc much of it's emotional
weight. The nostalgia is evident in (Prairie
Smile), (Tall Grass), and especially (Angel Heart), in
which Brown sings "It's a long drive from this
place back to my prairie home / And I will still be
driving when the sun climbs the horizon".
Well, Alberta's loss is Vancouver's gain, and if
he keeps writing tunes like the made-for-driving (One Of
These Days), Brown will earn himself a place in this
city's pantheon of Great Roots Acts.
(The
Georgia Straight - Vancouver - John Lucas)
NOTLAME - USA
"This is the 2nd solo release from the Canadian
who lead the roots/pop band Happyman to greatness in the
indie pop world. Like his first solo cd,
"Brand New Smile", this is a perfect blend
of sharp, clear visioned roots that is filled high with
melody and open chords. Brown's solo work is
something that anyone into Roots/Alt-Country should be
taking a very close look at, you will not be
disappointed."
(NOTLAME - USA - Bruce Brodeen)
The
Province - Vancouver
"From the relentless lick in "Already
Done" to the acoustic closer "Tall
Grass," this album rules. The band never misses and
tomorrow's CD release at the Railway Club is going to
ROCK."
(The
Province - Vancouver Daily)
The Edmonton Sun
"Graham was playing Alt-Country before
Alt-Country was cool. Such music is usually too
country for country radio, too bad. Good 'n Broke
has its dusty ballads, the raucous
two-steps, both banjo
and punk attitude and lyrics rife with lonesome
emotions. Head down to the Sidetrack and catch him
live."
(The Edmonton Sun - Mike Ross)
Westender
- Vancouver
"Prolific Mr. Brown fries up some more tasty
Alt-Country grits on his second solo album. Brown
returns to the Gram Parsons / Neil Young bin for
inspiration on "good 'n broke", which showcases
his smooth vocals, strong melodies and rough Telecaster
riffage. It's obvious that this guy loves to
write and play Real music. Sounds like the
frequent trips south have had an impact on him.
See him live at the Railway tonight."
(Westender
- Vancouver weekly - Tom Zillich)
Tandem Magazine
- Canada
"It's a rather clumsy term, but alt-country is
the tag given to bands (and singers) who add a
roots-rock feel to traditional country. The
results tend to be way different (and far more
appealing) than the banal "new country" of
Garth Brooks, Shania Twain etc. This genre has
become real popular in Britain, and has a loyal audience
here. A talented Canadian singer/songwriter
whose work embraces this form is GRAHAM BROWN. His
earlier bands BRILLIANT ORANGE and HAPPYMAN, had a more
conventional pop-rock feel, but showed Brown's
melodic Gifts. They're in evidence on his superb
new solo CD, "good 'n broke", which
stylistically can be compared to JR. GONE WILD, a group
Brown co-founded. This is a better album than
most of those coming from the more-hyped, American
alt-country bands, and deserves and audience."
(Tandem
Magazine - Canada - Kerry Doole)
Discorder
Magazine - Vancouver
"Graham Brown was a founding member of Jr. Gone
Wild, Brilliant Orange, and Happyman, which means he's
been writing and playing post-punk alt/country songs for
well over 15 years. No wonder, then, that he has
such a confident distinctive sound. The first 10
seconds of this CD deliver one of the biggest,
brightest, most ringingly beautiful guitar riffs you
will ever hear, and that's electric guitar, in spite of
his usual roots designation. The twang is there
nonetheless, in Graham's pleasing nasal / Lennonesque
voice, slide guitar, fiddle, and even mandolin that pops
up here and there through the tracks. There's
bluegrass influences ("We'll Be Alright"), Tom
Petty moments ("Masterpiece").
"Already Done", that's the first track,
reminds me of Dave Edmonds. There's even
train-whistle harmonica, organ, and bluesy stuff, but
Graham's unerring ear for pop hooks and bold guitar
lines hold everything together."
(Discorder
Magazine - Vancouver)
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