The songwriting team of Wayne Kirkpatrick, Gordon Kennedy and Tommy Sims (which won a Grammy for the Eric Clapton hit, "Change the World") also provided most of the studio work and background vocals. And one of the key producers was Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. This was not a half-effort, but instead was a genuine attempt on Brooks' behalf to do something new and unusual. Perhaps his greatest miscalculation was thinking that music fans -- including his most loyal -- would accept something so radically different. Rather, people have lashed out at him for this project as though he betrayed them, to the extent that the accompanying movie project (in which Garth would NOT have starred) has been shelved, if not scrapped.

For all of its flaws, "In the Life of Chris Gaines" is a grossly underrated album which deserves a listen on its own merits, of which there are many.


Fans of '80s Music Will Love It   February 19, 2000
Jennifer (St. Louis, Missouri USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This is a great album! Unfortunately, it does not appeal to Garth Brooks' traditional audience (coutnry fans) and pop fans are probably put off by the fact that it is a Garth Brooks album. So it's no wonder it hasn't been a commercial success, but pop fans need to give it a chance! My husband, who only tolerates Garth in his country incarnation, is a fan of '80s/early '90s pop and alternative and LOVED this album. Give it a try!


Let's face it.   January 22, 2000
Mike Johnson (a smalltown, Alabama United States)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

Let's face it. All of us who saw Garth Brooks perform Billy Joel's "Shameless" on the CMA awards in the early nineties ( a shameless act, perhaps?) knew the truth immediately. This guy is not country. With its Keith Richards-influenced guitar riff, "Shameless" seemed to indicate more that the Rolling Stones had gone country, the obligatory steel guitar aside. Now, millions of fans, millions of albums and ten years after, GB drops the steel guitar and the country music mask that never fit quite right and plays rock `n roll. And plays it well. To borrow a title from an early TV special on the subject, "THIS is Garth Brooks."

And Brooks is still full of surprises. He enlists the stunning musicianship and songslinging abilities of Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Phil Madiera, and Tommy Sims from the burgeoning contemporary Christian market. And while one readily hears the influence of the Beatles, John Mellencamp, Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, and Bob Seger in the mix (sometimes I even think I'm hearing a touch of Pink Floyd meets the Artist Formerly Known As in there), less familiar influences from other projects are evident-particularly Kennedy's work with the now defunct PFR and Dogs of Peace. So too, with Madiera. His B-3 craftsmanship echoes his work on Phil Keaggy's "Find Me in These Fields."

Interesting isn't it that GB must shamelessly (and here, no pun is intended) (and I'm fairly shameless about that) assume an alter ego/pseudonym to express himself fully? With "Chris Gaines," GB is finally able to pay proper homage to his Pantheon of Influence and in so doing, update the sound of classic rock and R and B and bring it firmly into the future. Thanks, Garth. Sometimes the most refreshing fragrance blows from a forest you've visited long ago. Rock on.