Borderline

In 1994 Brooks & Dunn continued to hold tight to their honky tonk roots, but *Borderline* displays their most diverse range of material to date. The duo’s revival of B.W. Stevenson’s 1976 hit “My Maria” is an irresistible piece of pure pop, and showed the group’s shrewdness when it comes to choosing material. While the Brooks-led songs “Why Would I Say Goodbye” and “My Love Will Follow You” bear the influence of folksingers like Jackson Browne and Jesse Winchester, Dunn provides husky vocals for slow-burning love songs like “I Am That Man.” As they became more popular, Brooks & Dunn had an easier time occupying opposite ends of the musical spectrum. “Tequila Town” and “More Than A Margarita” bring to mind the breezy beach music of Jimmy Buffet, while “Mama Don’t Get Dressed Up For Nothing” is salty bar band blues in the style of Z.Z. Top. There is a welcoming familiarity inherent in every Brooks & Dunn album, but a diverse set of influences saves them from monotony.

Discover Borderline by Brooks & Dunn released in 1996. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.