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REVIEW:  Royal Wade Kimes - A Dyin Breed

When I popped this disc into my player, I experienced a strange sense of deja vu.  I thought to myself, "I've heard this before!"  I was certain of it after a few more tracks had gone by, and pretty soon I realized I'd not only heard it before, but I even reviewed it last year for another site!  Okay, so maybe there's some minor drawbacks to getting to listen to so much great music.  I forget it all! 

Anyway, since I was approaching the disc as a new listen, I decided to review it fresh, not drawing on my previous review too much.  My opinion of the music hasn't changed at all: This disc is absolutely jam-packed with fine, strong cowboy songs, most of them tributes to the vanishing American West and speaking from one heart to another about the pain that disappearance is causing. 

"A Dying Breed" is sharp, strongly produced, a clear and clean_lined presentation of pleasant, simple songs done in a crisp style.  Kimes has been recording for a while, and his expertise at both performing and producing are amply demonstrated on this disc.  There's plenty to like here, songs about cowboys and the rodeos, the girl left behind and the girls in the dance halls, as well as a good ol' prison song, "Ball and Chain." 

My favorite cuts all seem to be the heart_stirring cowboy tunes at the end of the disc, such as "Good Guys" and "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone," delightful tributes to the TV and movie cowboys who are long gone and sadly missed; after all, how many of us remember Saturday nights with Marshall Dillon down in Dodge?  There's also "Gun Slinger," a chilling song of an "old" gun fighter, who's reached the surprising age of 35.

Last Word: Kimes is a great singer and an absolutely fantastic songwriter.  This disc is a top-notch offering from "a dyin' breed."

Standout Tracks: "Gunslinger," "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone," "Senorita," "Boogie Man."

On the Net:  http://royalwadekimes.com/index.php