MARK BROWN SKIN & BONE
by Matthew Boulte
Mark Brown is a Maryland native whose life reads like a Guy Clark story song; he’s worked on fishing rigs in the Pacific and been a carpenter for a time in the north east United States, amongst many other things. His life experience shines through in this mature and insightful record that is equally matched in its sonic landscape. Produced by Grammy Award winning Dean Jones, the album readily wears its old school country outlaw sensibilities, akin to Johnny Cash, but also pushes arrangements into newer and arguably more exciting territory. Songs like ‘Trouble’ exemplify this approach and provide catchy hooks while Brown sings about the good and bad things in life, all with an underlying sense of mischievousness. “Trouble comes cheap” he sings.