Jim Brooks is a veteran of the Atlanta music scene, having performed with artists such as Kelly Hogan and Michelle Malone. His latest project may be his best yet and it’s definitely his most personal. Jim has formed a duo with his 30-year-old daughter called The Brookses. The duo’s debut LP will be released later this month on April 26.
The first song on the LP is called “Little Miss Raincloud” and features Meg singing lead. I like the guitar work on this song. It is simple enough that it lets the focus be on the lyrics of the song. Meg is a great singer and I have a feeling she is capable of singing runs and hitting big notes when needed. It’s a sign of her musical maturity that she refrains from doing it for the sake of doing it. The harmonies between Jim and Meg are great.
The title track of the album is a song written by Jim 30 years ago. Jim didn’t want to record the song unless Meg sang lead on the song. It is a well-written song that ages well. I wouldn’t have known that the song was 30 years old from listening to the song. Meg does a fantastic job singing lead on the song.
Jim is a talented singer as well, which he showcases on songs like “If Tears Were Whiskey.” It is one of my favorite songs on the LP. I think it has a lot of the same qualities as the songs Hank Williams, Sr. wrote in the 1950s. It has a great hook and melody.
Rick Amburgey is an experienced journalist and country music fan. He can be contacted on Twitter at @ViewsCountry.