Rule No. 1

It is a truly amazing and refreshing thing to stumble across a CD as unique as the latest from roots rocker Dennis Brennan. One of the things that makes Rule No. 1 so appealing is the variety of musical styles, from the up-tempo rock of "I Got My Own" to the radio-friendly pop sound of "Going Down Gracefully" to the punk grind of "Keep Me Standing," a great tune reminiscent of the Clash. And then there's "Where Did We Go Wrong," a seriously country number that somehow manages to fit right into the rest of the set.

Brennan proves without a doubt that he is a world class songwriter with these 11 varied tracks. At times his lyrics are very Dylanesque, as in "Government Johnny McKee" and "Barbara Allen's Dream." On "Trouble," "Book of Love," and "This Kind of Love," Brennan rocks things up with the best of them, while "Crying on the Avenue" is a moody ballad that sounds like a hybrid of Kevin Kenny and Elvis Costello, and "Dream in Six" closes out the set with passion and drums galore.

On this, his latest solo album, Boston's Brennan delivers the goods with powerful full-tilt rockers, acoustic tunes, and crafty pop songs. Brennan's songwriting and singing skills are present and very much accounted for. Much more than just another singer/songwriter, Brennan has the right stuff for a limitless career in the rock & roll arena. ~ Michael B. Smith, Rovi