–Review originally published on www.musicnewsnashville.com.–Who says singing covers is something to shy away from? Not Anchorage, Alaska country music singer Doug Briney. On his debut full-length album, he performs four hit songs by other artists that turn out to be his most solid tracks.
He sure does know how to pick ‘em. The pastor/singer takes on the unlikely persona of a convicted wife murderer, and gives up one classy rendition of Blake Shelton’s swampy “Ol’ Red.” The self-described baritone has a striking upper range, and Chris Young dandies “The Man I Want To Be” and “Voices” let Briney reach his sweet spots in the choruses.
Six tracks are new songs written and co-written by Pat Kelley. Briney’s first single off the album – the mid-tempo “More Than Just a Farm” – is an opportunity for the artist to sing the praises of a country lifestyle, while he re-explores being a family man (this time as a grandpa) on the south of the border “Déjà Vu All Over Again.” But his final and riveting cover of “Bleed Red” by THE tenor of country music – namely Ronnie Dunn – is sung with complete conviction, giving me chill bumps. Arguably, Briney gives Dunn a run for his dollar here. This is just the kind of honest and meaty material that this newcomer ought to sink his vocal chops into. Visit the artist’s website at www.dougbriney.com.–Janet Goodman (Music News Nashville)