The Way

Chris Browder

5 stars (out of 5)

Chris Browder is Texas country to the bone. From his gritty, believable vocals to songs that tell stories about life, you travel the path he's walked and you learn the lessons he's learned. Chris and his band can rock with the best of them, but you won't find any pop fluff on this album. What you will find are true stories that evoke emotions and make you think about where you've been and where you are going.

The Way is a CD that every artist should strive to make. There's not a bad song on this CD. Every song fits Chris' voice perfectly and he brings maturity and truth to what he sings.

"Feel That Way Again" and "Home Again" take a look at life from years of experience. In "Feel That Way Again," Chis thinks back to days of youth and invincibility. Now that he's older and has experienced the tumbles of life, he wants to know how to feel invincible again. "Home Again" is about a person who realizes that he's made his own hell. He made the decisions that led him to where he is now, but he's willing to walk away from what he's done and go home again.

Getting to the heart of the matter are "The Way," "Still Crazy," and "Here Comes the Pain." In "The Way," a beautifully sad fiddle emphasizes the bittersweet ending of a relationship that started with so much promise and passion. "Still Crazy" has the universal theme of wanting someone even though you know it's a good thing the relationship is over. Adding some swing is "Here Comes the Pain." The song is a little more up-tempo, but this classic story is not a happy one. A lonely man is at the bar trying to forget the woman he's lost. He has her picture, though, and it just brings up the pain again.

On a more positive side, we see that Chris can deliver all varieties of country songs. "Bustin' at the Seams" has a man wondering why the woman in his life loves him. He continues to chase his dreams that never seem to come true, but she sticks with him. "Shelter From the Wind" is a beautiful tribute to the woman in a man's life. When he has to be away from her, he's cold and lonely, except for the one bright, warm spot in his heart. The place where her love for him lives.

It's not often a debut album like this comes along, but one thing is for sure, when it does, you need to add it to your collection. Don't miss out on this one.