Good Luck Stranger

Album Review

Sounding equal parts Tom Petty and John Lennon, with a lot of country twang mixed in, Brady Harris has perfected a brand of roots rock that is pleasantly out of step with most of his contemporaries in the alternative country scene. Harris is an impressively polished songwriter, boasting big melodies sunk in dark chord changes, delivered with a versatile voice that frequently seems at its breaking point. As much as tracks like "Fading" call to mind the more brooding quality of early Lennon solo recordings, Harris just as easily slips into barroom country in the comical "Anthrax Blues" and "Drunk With You." The absolutely gorgeous folk-pop of "I'll Miss These Days," employing strings and utterly sweet chord progressions, is highly indicative of the range of influences Harris produces as a songwriter, as he possesses an eclecticism similar to that of Jeff Tweedy. All in all, these songs have outstanding staying power, as Harris' substantial talents lift him well above those with whom he will be categorized.