|
Roots Music Report
"Graham Brown's song writing abilities are quite
evident on this CD. Songs of life, love and living in
today's world, all written extremely well. The music on
this CD covers a wide range of styles such as folk,
roots rock, and some with a slight pop edge. Graham
sings like there is definitely a tomorrow in his music
career. He is around to stay and we are sure glad here
at Roots Music Report that he is releasing CDs of this
quality."
(Roots Music Report - Texas, USA -
Robert Bartosh)
The Vancouver Courier
""Stand Your Ground" is a worthy
follow up to "Good 'n Broke". An album that
flows with a maturity and confidence evocative of
soul-scourging Americana bards Tom Russell, Steve Earle
and Alejandro Escovado, it like-wise embraces the
pop-rock sensibilities Tom Petty brought to the
influence of Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. The
albums first single/video is slated to be "Morning
Light", a song that encapsulates the essence of
Brown's first-person observational writing. Like all of
the "Stand Your Ground" songs, it unravels
with an almost spontaneous note-book transcription feel
that states rather than judges; thereby assuming a
collective perspective that bypasses mawkish
introspection."
 (The
Courier - Vancouver - Greg Potter)
KINDA MUZIK - ( Netherlands )
"In the flow of country releases a most charming
disc has arrived. Graham Brown is his name and he lives
in Vancouver, Canada. He is well established there and
has been making records since the eighties. Still he is
searching to control his life and heart which Brown
sings about in "Control Of My Heart". The
songs sound very pleasing and have a real Canadian sound
to them. This is Brown's eighth full length release and
I plead with listeners to pick up a copy. On "Stand
Your Ground" we can roughly put the songs into two
categories, there are the quiet searching songs and the
more Steve Earle-esque roots/rockers in which Brown has
some stinging guitar solos accompanied by some Hammond
B3. "Stand Your Ground" will draw a lot of
attention."
Ronald Besemer - KINDA MUZIK - (
Netherlands )
Miles Of Music
Graham Brown - Stand Your Ground:
"Stand Your Ground is the third solo release
from Canadian alt. country and roots-rocker Graham
Brown. His previous group, The Happyman, had also
recorded for Stomp Records. Full of twangin and janglin
rockers, Stand Your Ground displays Browns easy going
manner and roots-pop sensibilities through a lively set
of gritty and biting tunes. Some show tenderness to
great effect, such as the slow and glistening
"Gone, Gone, Gone". Ever on the road, Graham
Brown & The Prairie Dogs have imbued these 11 tracks
with the brash warmth of the live stage. Its everything
right about melding country with rock n roll - honest
and moving."
(Miles
Of Music)
FREIGHT TRAIN BOOGIE - ( USA )
"In the course of his life, Graham Brown has
sojourned from Scotland to Vancouver, British Columbia,
via Winnipeg, Toronto and Edmonton. I'd have to venture
that his prairie days were his most formative, because
along the way, he acquired a pretty good concept of what
roots/country/alt/country music is all about. The
opening track "Be That Way", with its soaring,
almost majestic guitar lines, would at first almost
belie the proceeding statement, but stay close, the next
one " Morning Light" rolls along in true
country-rock fashion, and sets the tone for the rest of
the disc……" 
Don Grant - FREIGHT TRAIN BOOGIE - ( USA )
MazzMuzikas Magazine - ( Belgium )
"Graham Brown is a Canadian guitarist/songwriter
who already has two decades of releases and respect in
the music world. He began his professional career in
1984 by forming a group called (Jr. Gone Wild), then
moved to Vancouver and form (Brilliant Orange) which
would release two albums then came the formation of (Happyman)
which would release three critically acclaimed albums.
In 1998 Graham began his solo career the release of
(Brand New Smile ) and followed by (Good 'n Broke ) in
2001 which began to break in Europe with the song
"Prairie Smile" on many radio stations. His
band is called (The Prairie Dogs) - Mark Gruft - Drums,
Dave Bridges Bass & Vocals, Ford Pier - Hammond and
Graham - Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin, Harmonica. This
line-up furnishes the new CD "Graham Brown - Stand
Your Ground", an album that affirms what has
already been said. Brown and his telecaster bring back
the flavours of (Green on Red, Guadalcanal Diary, True
West, or even The Long Ryders). Graham is a Wicked
guitar player that touches on rock & country.
Starting with the beautiful song (Morning Light) with
it's lovely hammond and harmonica, then (Gone, Gone,
Gone) which is such a excellent ballad, then (Alberta
Bound Homestead) with an infectious refrain and guitar
line and the delicious ballad (Pebble In My Shoe). The
final three songs like the opener are a tasty
country-rock stew. With "Stand Your Ground"
Graham Brown brings us a great and richly varied album,
well worth the time to be discovered." -
(BD) MazzMuzikas Magazine -
( Belgium )
ROOTSHIGHWAY MAGAZINE - (Italy)
"Graham Brown is a singer/songwriter from
Vancouver Canada and already has a 20 year career to his
credit. With comparisons through the years to (JayHawks),
(Son Volt) and from our American, English and Dutch
colleagues who put him some lofty comparisons such as
(Dylan), (Neil Young), (Steve Earle) and it is the Steve
Earle comparison that this writer thinks is the best fit
here, yet Brown has a unique sound that really is all
his own, a very tight melodic sound with the help of his
band , "The Prairie Dogs" (Mark Gruft -
Drums), (Dave Bridges - Bass) and (Ford Pier - Hammond).
STAND YOUR GROUND opens with "Be That Way"
which is an electric guitar work out that shakes the
foundation with its heavy growing rhythm, followed by
"Morning Light" with its acoustic flow and
panoramas straight into the countrified "Control Of
My Heart" and the slow and beautiful "Gone,
Gone, Gone". The heart of the sound from this
record is mainly rock & roll with some strong roots
influences that shake and pulsate the listener. Songs
like "Open Wide", "Bloodshot Eyes",
"Movin On", all fall into this category. The
final tune "Love & Understanding" is a
fresh and beautiful piece of rock & roll. The
production is intense and interesting, Graham along with
Blair Calibaba have done a skillful job of the mix.
GRAHAM BROWN is a formidable musician that knows how to
conquer. Stand Your Ground is something special and it
deserves your attention."
Carl Lancini - ROOTSHIGHWAY MAGAZINE -
(Italy)
|
