MWSA Music Review

Artist:  Brent Burns

Website:  www.brentburns.com

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

BRENT BURNS – The King of “Parrotheads”and the easy life!

Many years ago, those of us who are old enough, may well remember Brent Burns and his first hit. He had all of America smiling and feeling good. He summed up how most of us felt about the Arabs with their oil prices and all the gas shortages. It was called “Cheaper Crude of No More Food”. That song was played on the Paul Harvey Radio Show three times. On just the first day that song was released, it sold 200,000 copies. Ever since then this Purple Heart, Vietnam veteran has been singing and writing hundreds of songs that have caused us to tap our toes and forget our problems. This guy was in the beach groove long before Jimmy Buffett was a mega star. The styles are comparable but not the same. Brent has put the sparkle back in the Margarita and the salt on the glass.

I admit that I have become a huge Brent Burns fan. I now have a big pile of his CDs and I keep beach sand in my sandals. His music are all fresh originals. They never fail to cheer me up when life gets too dark with problems. There is just too damn much energy to be depressed while listening to his music. So take it from this newly converted “Parrothead” you cannot remain blue when listening to his sizzling tunes.

So now let me introduce you to a few of his hit CDs…

CD: Margarita Smile

Artist: Brent Burns

Musicians: John Kerns, Steven Bryant, Dave Francis, Jim Wilson, Dennis Holt

Background Vocals: Vickie Carrico, Stephanie McKenna, Michael Black

I love this CD with some its irreverent music cuts. Starting right off with the signature song “Margarita Smile,”; that takes all of us to that Friday afternoon after work at our favorite bar with the old gang. You will leave all your troubles behind. That song is followed by “Nurse Rambo” which is really a tale about surviving a hurricane and dealing with the National Guard. My favorite cut on this CD is “Parrothead Rendezvous”, which celebrates the party life.

“Trailer Park Sexy” you can just image the lyrics about this trailer park lady. “Barefoot Holiday” a good song for us beach dreamers. But “Pink Flamingos Blues” is definitely an original blues ballad with a beach beat. “Champagne In A Paper Cup” makes a lot of us chuckle at the words since it seems to describe our own relationships—they say opposites attract.

Other great songs on this CD include a funny little piece called “I Think I’m Goin’ Blonde”, “Love is a Slippery Slope”, “Hit The Beach” and “Lonely Hearts Club”. But there is a really wild little song at the end called “The Do Do Song” that will leave you rolling and laughing. The lyrics work best if you have a few Margaritas and have your shoes off.

This whole album celebrates being cool and loose and being A Parothead! I know of no one who hasn’t smiled and moved in the rhythms of the infectious beat and melodies when they listen to it.

CD: Livin’ the Life – Jimmy Buffet Only Wrote About

Artist: Brent Burns

Musicians: Malcolm Bond, George Eberlein

Background Vocals: Laura Vida, Tom Fisch

In this CD Brent Burns works with a smaller group which makes it feel more like a good beach bar band and gets you into the spirit of the songs. Again like all of Brent’s music his lyrics are what make them special and this CD is no different. Take the song “If It’s Snowbird Season Why Can’t We Shoot ‘Em?” just the title alone gives you a clue as to the attitude of this song. The song “Compass & Anchor” is well written and sung ballad for those people who are living with broken relationships and dreams. This is really a good song even if you are not in a bar drinking rum or are in a good relationship. It has a dreaming quality and it makes you reflect on thoughts within.

My favorite is “Livin’ The Life (Jimmy Buffet Only Wrote About)”. The song fits well with the mood of Brent’s music—of being a regular guy making his living with his songs. It is interesting comparison in the lyrics and kind of funny as well.

“Aloha Betty” helps me daydream back to Hawaii but he treats this little song his usual humor. “Neon Tan” has background sounds of the beach with ocean waves and birds but the song is about spending time at the bar near the beach. A song that has a great tune and beat and thoughtful words.

The song “Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal” is about why he sings and plays his guitar. It would make a great country hit with its country beat. “Little Grass Hut” is nice sentimental and romantic ballad. “911…Save My Heart” is another song about being dumped and reaching out for someone to help him; a good drinking song that many can identify with. The CD finishes up “Down in Paradise” which deals with being alone in paradise without his women.

This CD is a laid back Brent Burns at his best with the small band sound. Very enjoyable!

CD: Tropical Nuts

Artist: Brent Burns

Musicians: John Brust, Jiff Fidler, Rick Redmon, John kearns, Stacy Hogan, George Perill, Stephen Ray Bryant, Jim Wilson, Tim Lorsch, Kirk “Jellyroll” Johnson

Background Vocals: Laura Vida, Tom Fisch, Bill Whyte

I love Jamaican music and this CD provides me a little taste with it opening song “Jamaicanmecrazi” . What wild lyrics (But isn’t that true with all of Brent’s songs) and it works magic with the Jamaican beat. “Top Down and Ridin Around” has some really good guitar picking and in the background some great harmonica playing blues; really a toe tapping song. Funny and witty is this little song called “Victoria’s Secret”. The words are hilarious. The theme is about changing ones gender orientation. “I’m Goin Ugly Early” a country kind of song about picking up chicks in the bar. “Size Matters” is funny but the ending is a hoot! “Men Fake It Too” and interesting little ditty.

“They’re Getting Married Again” a witty statement about divorce and marriage. “Sympathy Card” is another themed country sounding ballad about getting married again.

“It’s Always the Man’s Fault” isn’t this always the way it is. Brent sums it up for all of us men. “Seasick Again” is for all of us that get seasick on those fishing trips. “Melancholy Mood” Brent shows another musical side of himself with his blues favored ballad about relationships. The added twist of the bar noises and announcer makes this an interesting song. “Shot For the Moon” is actually a serious song that looks at life and our dreams. “FTF (Forget The French)” I think sums up American sentiments in a nut shell in a very funny musical way.

An easy listening CD as are all Brent’s music tends to be.

CD: Perpetual Vacation

Artist: Brent Burns

Musicians: Malcolm Bond, George Eberlien, Stacy Hogan, Jelly Roll Johnson, Jim Wilson, Tim Lorsch, Al perkins, Brian “BW” Whelleer, Ed Gore

Background Vocals: Laura Vida, Tom Fisch

The title track is “Perpetual Vacation” and it sums up the whole life style Brent projects about himself. It is fun and light hearted. There is a slightly different version of his song “Champagne in a Paper Cub” – as likable as ever. Great background singing and music background. “Laid back In L.A.(Lower Alabama)” has all that beach sound and tells a tale of being on the move missing L.A.; great beat.

“Mean People Suck” a little country song that sounds like it was recorded in the bar. Listening to this song is pure pleasure and the words are right on! Great steel guitar rifts in the background. “Livin’ in Limbo” is a simple song that has powerful lyrics that question love. “Baseball” starts off with an baseball announcer then transcends into a wonderful love song. The song “God Don’t Care What You Wear” starts off with a Jimi Hendrix kind of steel guitar rift and then dissolves into a country song. The words are classic Brent at his best.

“The Big Hurt” a rich ballad that has good supporting background music. “Son Of The Beach” kind of a life style statement that fits well with this CD. Great words and the music works well. “Sand Castle(Phoenix 47)” a reflective look at “progress” as 10 story condos replace childhood homes. “Rich White People” is a funny statement on the social life of rich white people. “Lose Sailors’ Hope” is a tribute to the men of the NUMBA who died.

Another magic CD that is reflective and funny and enjoyable to listen to.

Brent Burns – My final thoughts

It would be hard to rate any of Brent’s CDs as better or the best since I feel that even though they all are different in some ways they all stand alone in excellence. Each has musical sounds and words that set a mood and a tone. To me his music is fun and at time soulfully thoughtful and even inspirational even when they are meant to be funny.

Brent is a member of the MWSA and we would like to honor him with a “Legacy Award” for all his musical works and not just one selected CD or song. He is truly one of the great entertainers of our generation. We are honored by his membership and hope that this simple gesture of recognition for all his creative work over the years will suffice to give him a measure of how much we love him and his music.

MWSA – Music Legacy Award – For Lifetime Achievement