(Photo by Christi Laviolette)
‘Your Dog, Champ’
Brent Best (Last Chance)
4 stars out of 5
Singer/songwriter Brent Best has earned a deserved reputation as a first-rate troubadour in his native Texas — first as frontman for alt-country outfits Slobberbone and The Drams — and now as a solo performer. After more than 20 years in the business, Best finally serves up his debut solo album in “Your Dog, Champ.” It proves to be well worth the wait.
“I come from a background where no matter how much you’re baring your soul, you can always hide behind this wall of noise,” Best explains. And I didn’t want to do that here, I tried to make it very sparse. At first, I thought it would just be me and a guitar, but I started thinking of things I wanted to add — and who I wanted to bring in to add them.”
There isn’t a misstep to be found on the 11-track, 53-minute release, with Best shining particularly bright on keepers “Daddy Was a Liar,” “You Shouldn’t Worry,” “Aunt Ramona,” “Robert Cole,” “Tangled” and “Clotine.” Here’s hoping Best won’t wait too long for a second solo effort. (Jeffrey Sisk)
