Jul 1, 2011 By Clint Rhodesspinit Music 2 min read

?Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn were the biggest-selling duo in country music history. Together they released country classics like “Neon Moon,” “My Maria,” “Play Something Country” and “Red Dirt Road.” Their 1991 debut album, “Brand New Man,” was a snapshot of the duo’s greatness that would influence county music over the next 20 years.

Brooks and Dunn decided to split last year, leaving fans to wonder if they would ever hear new material or simply be resigned to listening to greatest hits collections. Fortunately, it was a short wait as Dunn releases his self-titled solo album with the same flair and vigor of any earlier Brooks and Dunn material. Dunn proves right from the start that he has no intention of slowing down as he opens with the rowdy “Singer in a Country Band.”

Living up to his promise in the opening track, Dunn does a proficient job of mixing up the fast ones with the slow ones. The singer’s soulful voice shines on the stunning “Bleed Red” and the melodically beautiful “I Can’t Help Myself.” “Cost of Livin'” is an emotional stunner as Dunn outlines the determined efforts of an unemployed veteran searching for work to keep food on the table for his family. The liveliest and most infectious arrangement is “How Far to Waco” with its Tex-Mex and honky-tonk mixture of pure foot-tapping power as the mariachi horns infuse an authentic south of the border feel.

Dunn’s solo effort strays little from the successful formula fashioned with Brooks, which means he’ll continue to sell massive amounts of records and concert tickets for venues from California to Maine. “Let the cowboy rock/Let the good times roll,” sings Dunn in a celebratory manner that signals the best may be yet to come.

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