Golden Road
Keith Urban
Aubrey Haynie, Eric Darken
Engineer: Justin Niebank, Jeff Balding,
Producer: Dann Knuff, Keith Urban
Capitol/EMI Records, 2002
1 CD
Catalogue #: 32936
EAN: 0724353293628
UPC: 724353293628
You save: 25%
Personnel: Keith Urban (vocals, electric guitar, gango, e-bow, cardboard box); Dan Dugmore (guitar, steel guitar); Tom Bukovac, Dan Knuff (guitar); Jason Mowery (dobro); Aubrey Haynie (fiddle); Tim Akers (Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Steve Nathan, John Hobbs (keyboards); Jimmie Leee Sloas (bass); Chris McHugh, Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion); Eric Darken (percussion); Russell Terrell (background vocals); The Nashville String Machine.
Considering that Keith Urban grew up in New Zealand and cultivates an image that's more Kelly Clarkson than Roy Clark, one might be tempted to doubt his abilities when it comes to Nashville hit making. On GOLDEN ROAD, however, Urban delivers a solid set of contemporary country with more panache and chops than many of his American-born, cowboy-hatted contemporaries. A virtuoso picker who credits Lindsay Buckingham as a primary influence, Urban has fashioned a highly melodic country/alternative-rock fusion that's equal parts Fleetwood Mac, Rodney Crowell, and Third Eye Blind. On several tunes, twangy vocals and banjo blend seamlessly with distorted Lynyrd Skynryd-style guitar leads and the pounding drums of rocker Matt Chamberlain (David Bowie, Tori Amos, Dave Navarro). In addition, Urban wisely avoids using Music City cookie-cutter material, instead favoring mature tunes from left-of-center stalwarts such as Crowell and Radney Foster. Overall, GOLDEN ROAD offers few real surprises, but serves as a welcome reminder of Nashville's occasional ability to produce music that's simultaneously slick and substantial.
Tracklist
Keith Urban
Though Keith Urban is a major US country star, he actually hails from Australia, where he began his career. After coming to America with his band the Ranch, Urban began making international inroads. As skilled at guitar playing as he was at singing, he did some session work for Garth Brooks and the Dixie Chicks before his solo career began to really take off. By 2000, though, Urban had his first big country hit, "It's a Love Thing," and he was off and running. In addition to being a consistent hitmaker, Urban has made the news for his dating life, including a long connection to actress and fellow Aussie, Nicole Kidman, with whom he has a child.
