Album Review: Jack Browning - Painted Skies

 

On his second album, London-based artist Jack Browning has thrown all his artistic might into creating a record bringing tradition up-to-date. PAINTED SKIES is an exhibition how to put the pieces of a country album together and spin something wholesomely authentic. Bar a couple of name drops, Browning steer clears of cliches while intelligently dissecting a state of mind within lyrics bestowed with a tasty structure. Meaning traverses from explicit outpouring to introspective musing using a broad soundscape underpinned by pedal steel. The country core draws influences from the blues pairing heartfelt ballads with stompers ripe for the wooden floor. A rich Stateside association blends with a studious outlook applying touches aligned with his other creative pursuit of painting vivid images of the West. 

Twelves tracks parade the wealth of Browning’s musicianship with the bonus offering ‘Muhlenberg County Stars’ getting an acoustic version cut on some formats. Even with a mild band accompaniment, this heart-filled ballad frames the collection at its mellow best with a full grasping of what Browning intends to convey in relation to capturing a special tender moment. This is one of ten song compositions when Browning wields his pen with mighty intent. The two outliers are the traditional ‘James Alley Blues’ previously cut by Willie Watson, filling a highly cultured slot and the interesting inclusion of a spoken piece with added musical arrangement ‘The Perimeter’ was written by Browning in collaboration with Texas Radio & the Big Beat and is evocatively presented on the album by Joe David Walters giving a real feel of the old time West. 

The art of launching a record spectacularly well is exemplified on PAINTED SKIES with the opening two tracks creating the essential hooks. ‘Speak Your Mind (But Ride a Fast Horse)’ has the hallmark of an effective flagship track mixing country irony with a serious message. The follow on piece contains the standout lyric in ‘I got champagne taste but lemonade money’ which helps ‘Champagne Taste’ roll out as one of the album’s stand out moments. A piece of pure country gold.

‘Junkyard Dog’ possesses a scratchy feel in the midriff of the record adding a faint edgy blues touch, while ‘Factory Reset’ shores up the final stages with a steady rhythm and some spicy lyrics. There are moments when momentum is slightly lost such as ‘Heavy is the Head’ which attempts to portray a border sound and ‘Wire’, yet we are right on track with the delightful closing song ‘Painted Skies’ shining a bright light on the album’s positive points, namely sincere writing and acres of gorgeous pedal steel.

There are multiple facets to PAINTED SKIES tempting you to return and marvel how Jack Browning has created a rich record perfecting the art of country music curation. Its unlimited potential could take Browning far across the country music landscape, especially quarters valuing tradition but equally moved by respectful renewal. Subtle interpretation and capturing the lyrical essence enable this record to breathe and prosper.