imaginal_discs
The 90s brought a golden era to country music. The radio was on fire with hit after hit and many of those came from Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn. Initially paired by Arista Nashville record exec Tim DuBois, the boys went on to fill the charts with hit after hit. Easy parallels run between this duo and Daryl Hall and John Oates: trading off on songs, range, and sheer catchiness. Both artists would help define the respective genres of their eras. The album kicks off with an ode to the “Hard Workin’ Man.” Easy to love and a testament to a job well done. “Mexican Minutes” plays like “Margaritaville” without all the novelty and baggage that song carries. And “Rocky My World (Little Country Girl)” is just meant for the neon-lighted honky-tonk dancefloor. What makes this record stand out is the balance of bangers and ballads. Many country records of the era had more than a few ballads tacked on to round out the album. The ability for Brooks and Dunn to deftly move between them keeps the record lively and well-paced. What makes this record work so well is the strength of these ballads. Far from filler, the number ones from the album are ballads. The standout comes later on the record with “That Ain’t No Way to Go.” Ronnie delivers one of his best vocal performances with power, stamina, and passionate inflections. The imagery of the “lipstick letter cross the mirror this morning” shows a literary aspect that country folk love - a great story.
When it comes to 90s country, there’s a lot to love, but Brooks and Dunn had some special magic. The power of two minds meant to dance with each other. And to combine that with their talent, it makes sense why they have 20 number one songs. This era of country carried a pop torch that borrowed heavily from 70s and 80s rock and kept a beat on the contemporary mainstream. The appeal is strong but not many albums of the era stand as strong as Hard Workin’ Man. While their first LP had “Brand New Man,” “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” and the all-time classic “Neon Moon,” all of which beat any track on Hard Workin’ Man, overall they did it best on their second LP.
