In his first release of new music (not counting the unsuccessful experiment with his alter ego Chris Gaines), Garth Brooks proves with "Scaregrow" why he is the most popular country music singer.
And if this is, as he purports, Brooks' last album, then he is leaving all his fans with a truly comprehensive look at the style he has created over the years. He manages to combine true honky-tonk bluegrass sounds with a rock, pop ballad style creating his own brand of country that has taken over the industry.
Brooks even incorporates the talents of such diverse musicians as George Jones, Trisha Yearwood and Bela Fleck. That said, Brooks has not pushed over the mainstream ledge yet. His music and lyrics still contain enough twang to satisfy even the most hardcore honky-tonk lover.
Several years into his so-called retirement and coming off a disastrous experiment with pseudo-rock, Brooks storms back onto the recording scene with what may be his strongest effort in years, perhaps even more so than his hit record "Sevens." The music on this one is much stronger and the emotions much more real.
Though often accused of over-hyping and over-packaging his music and of being washed up and out of creative genius, Brooks makes a very strong case to prove the critics wrong. The time off seems to have rejuvenated his spirit, and several of the songs reflect that in raw feeling.
Although Brooks claims this will be the last of his albums before his official retirement, one has the feeling after listening to this album that he probably will be back for more. Or at least that is the hope of all his fans.
This album is full of emotion, but Brooks still throws in necessary toe-tapping favorites. There's the radio hit "Wrapped Up In You," which is probably the best example of how well he can wrap a pop-style song with a harmonica and fiddle and sell it as a country song.
And the ever-truthful song "Big Money" mixes in nicely beside the upbeat, modern day ballad duet with Trisha Yearwood, "Squeeze Me In." But included in with these are good ol' cowboy songs, such as "Rodeo or Mexico" and throwback bluegrass such as "Don't Cross the River."
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The rawness of Brooks' emotions, stemming from his recent divorce and the death of his mother, are apparent in several of the album's tracks. In "Pushing Up Daisies," he reminisces about times with his mother, singing, "There's two dates in time/That they'll carve on your stone/And everyone knows what they mean/What's more important/Is the time that's known/In that little dash there in between."
In "Mr. Midnight" Brooks sings about the pain of divorce from the point of view of a disc jockey on an all-night request and dedication show: "I'm Mr. Midnight along and blue/The broken-hearted call me up/When they don't know what else to do/Every song is a reminder of the love/that they once knew/I'm Mr. Midnight, can I play a song for you." And one song that encompasses all his emotions in one, "Thicker Than Blood," cries out the need for love in life.
The song Brooks performed at the Country Music Association Awards and the one starting to receive massive airplay is a duet with country legend George Jones, called "Beer Run." This song shows Brooks' roots in the true rocking, honky-tonk style of country music. As the two singers yeehaw and swing their way through the song, the pure joy and fun of it shine through.
Brooks has made his loyal fans wait almost four years for this album, and it was well worth the wait. And though he claims this is his finale, some fans seem to think that the last song on the album, "When You Come Back to Me Again," which is about returns and second chances, hints otherwise.
"Beer Run" asks the question, "Like a B-double E-double are you in?" All fans of Garth Brooks would be well recommended to respond with a hearty "Hell yeah," because you cannot help but be into this album.
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