I love it when artists review their own records in the titles.

It's a curse to be Junior Brown, trapped under ice between being serious and a novelty act, more talented but less subtle than is good for him.

That doesn't mean he's not yours to love. He should be. The novelty song this time is about a sexy secret agent from Russia named Cagey Bea (say it out loud). I love that song!

Riverboat Shuffle shows Brown off as a producer, plenty of clarinet and sax for any country album. With Grow Up America, you keep waiting for the punchline until you realize it's like one of those weird Merle Haggard peace songs that only show up on the box sets. There's something timeless about it, pre-post-cynical. How's that for a mouthful?

Good covers like Guitar Man, played with lightning, and Kansas City Blues round the record into - like the bearded inventor of the guit-steel says - a mixed bag.

Still, you keep your ham and baloney. I'll take this sandwich any day. (More on: Junior Brown).

Track Listing 1. Guitar Man
  2. Ain't Gonna Work Today
  3. Riverboat Shuffle
  4. Our First Bluebonnet Spring
  5. Cagey Bea
  6. Runnin' With The Wind
  7. Catfish And Collard Greens
  8. Little Town Square
  9. Hard Livin' Hard
  10. Kansas City Blues
  11. Grow Up America
  12. The Chase