Brendan McKinney and the 99 Brown Dogs
Right Where I Came In
Hapi Skratch Records
Here’s a CD that I have no idea about. Never heard of him or the band, but that’s where the fun of this job comes in. Let’s get right to old Brendan and see what he sounds like.
The opener on the disc is a track called "It’s A Crying Shame" which threw me back for a second because I thought the sound was very unique considering the genre that I thought I was listening to. My first impression of the CD was that this was an alt-country act with elements of some sort of pop inkling to it, however, after further review; I realized that he and the 99 Brown Dogs were adding things like piano, harmonica, trumpets, and mandolins in a way that I’ve never heard alt country. The sound is very unique and I would describe Brendan McKinney’s singing style and voice similar to that of something between Billy Bragg, John Prine, and Wilco. All the different instruments allow the music to have a deep and full sound with many different layers for your ears to dissect. A few of the standout tracks on the disc were "Julio and Bernadette" "The Proven Ground" and one of my favs "Fat Ass Girls".

Overall, I thought that this was a great CD that could have a mass appeal to fans of any type of music. It’s not your typical mainstream music, but that makes it even better…It’s like a little secret everyone can horde to themselves.

Songwriter/guitarist Brendan McKinney has created a timely, refreshing
blast of Americana with his latest CD, "Right Where I Came In."

The 11 track disk was recorded with his band, The 99 Brown Dogs , in Bergen, Norway,
and offers a brisk blend of urban and country influences.

Mc Kinney's traveling troubadour lifestyle over the past decade -- which included several years living in Europe -- allows him to filter diverse experiences and influences freely and confidently throughout the landscape of his exceptional songwriting.

The skilled musicianship of The 99 Brown Dogs combined with the clever but simple
production, brings both Mc Kinney's writing and textured vocals to the forefront.

The songs themselves are rooted in reality, but artfully driven with solid grooves and rich lyrical content:

Anyone who's felt slightly overwhelmed after absorbing the harsh realties of the modern world, can relate to the powerful song, "Sinking Down", a highly energized track complete with a clever horn arrangement.

The "Proven Ground " is an acoustic anthem about choosing to follow your heart at the expense of gaining a life of security through conformity, a dilemma we all face more regularly than we perhaps realize. "Leave it up to me" is a groovy Pop Americana tune with soulful vocals expressing an optimistic faith that, "...everything will work out fine."

On the lighter side, "Fat Ass Girls" is a starkly honest yet lighthearted musing on the realities of how men and women meet and fall in love .“That comes from a true story," laughs McKinney. And unlike those so-called reality TV shows, this is an example of how many people really get together, and ultimately stay together."

McKinney matches this honest attitude to whatever the mood calls for, encouraging each song to cry out its message loud and clear.

The haunting barebones track, "Pirates Gold", with a solo McKinney pounding his guitar while playing harmonica, brings to the mind's eye a picture of a subway busker singing with the voice a streetwise kid trying to turn his luck around with one 'big score'.

The catchy, Dylanesque number "Hey Hey, Jan Jan " with lyrics like, " you should, you could, and you know what I would, keep ringing in my ears” is another example of Mc Kinney's ability to mine the depths of his own experiences and relay them in a universal way that instantly connects with the listener.

"Right Where I came In," is a CD that is right on time. It is rife with simple ideals and observations that are an integral part of the human experience.