Album Review: Brian Lambert 'Country Music Jesus'

Released in January, Brian Lambert’s Country Music Jesus sets forth a bold title….but the album’s the farthest thing from an ego trip. Produced by Salim Nourallah (Old 97's), the self-penned six-track collection tackles everything from young love and lost love to struggle, country music – and Tony Romo - with a sincere honesty.

With hints of Elvis in his vocals, Lambert opens with piano-laden, shuffling title track extoling, and longing for, the country music of yesteryear, “Now I ain’t saying that we need to go back to the past/And copy what the masters have done/Ah but there is something about today’s country music.” Quoting REK, the twangy “Don’t Ask Me” offers a realistic, somber portrait of a man who, due to economic downturns, has become someone who is just getting by – and someone he doesn’t know, while “The Ballad of Tony Romo”, with its retro jazzy vibe and harmonies, pays tribute to the man who gets back up when he’s down, and “Blood” offers up a darker side with gritty vocals and thumping percussive notes.

The set is rounded out with the breezy, truthful “Young and Dumb in Love” a tale of how we view things when love is new and the reality of what we see (clearly) as time passes and “Halloween” a bittersweet, soulful duet featuring Becky Middelton about the hurt we feel when a marriage and family ends and we see the other person with someone new.

With Country Music Jesus, Lambert pairs memorable melodies with relatable stories of relationships, heartache, and life experiences with which you’ll connect. Give it a listen.

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