Keith Urban Golden Road CD

Considering that Keith Urban grew up in New Zealand and cultivates an image that's more Kelly Clarkson than Roy Clark, one might be tempted to doubt his abilities when it comes to Nashville hit making. On GOLDEN ROAD, however, Urban delivers a solid set of contemporary country with more panache and chops than many of his American-born, cowboy-hatted contemporaries. A virtuoso picker who credits Lindsay Buckingham as a primary influence, Urban has fashioned a highly melodic country/alternative-rock fusion that's equal parts Fleetwood Mac, Rodney Crowell, and Third Eye Blind. On several tunes, twangy vocals and banjo blend seamlessly with distorted Lynyrd Skynryd-style guitar leads and the pounding drums of rocker Matt Chamberlain (David Bowie, Tori Amos, Dave Navarro). In addition, Urban wisely avoids using Music City cookie-cutter material, instead favoring mature tunes from left-of-center stalwarts such as Crowell and Radney Foster. Overall, GOLDEN ROAD offers few real surprises, but serves as a welcome reminder of Nashville's occasional ability to produce music that's simultaneously slick and substantial.

Feat. Single "Somebody Like You"

Audio Mixer: Justin Niebank.

Recording information: Blueberry Hill; Emerald Entertainment; Hound's Ear; The Sound Kitchen, Nashville, TN.

Photographer: Juan Pont Lezica.

Arranger: Ronn Huff.

Personnel: Keith Urban (vocals, electric guitar, gango, e-bow, cardboard box); Dan Dugmore (guitar, steel guitar); Tom Bukovac, Dan Knuff (guitar); Jason Mowery (dobro); Aubrey Haynie (fiddle); Tim Akers (Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Steve Nathan, John Hobbs (keyboards); Jimmie Leee Sloas (bass); Chris McHugh, Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion); Eric Darken (percussion); Russell Terrell (background vocals); The Nashville String Machine.

Personnel: Keith Urban (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, E-bow, banjo, piano, background vocals); Dan Dugmore (guitar, steel guitar); Dan Huff, Tom Bukovac (guitar); Kathryn Vanosdale, Carl Gorodetzky, Pamela Sixfin, Alan Umstead (violin); Aubrey Haynie (fiddle); Kris Wilkinson, Gary VanOsdale (viola); Carl Rabinowitz (cello); Nashville String Machine (strings); John Hobbs (piano, keyboards); Tim Akers, Steve Nathan (keyboards); Chris McHugh (drums, percussion); Matt Chamberlain (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Jerry Flowers, Monty Powell, Scotty Huff (background vocals).

Entertainment Weekly (11/1/02, p.71) - "...A largely introspective album about faith, familial love, and the curse of addiction...both commercial and cool." - Rating: B