Every one of B&D's previous albums has gone multi-platinum, and this one will assuredly do so also. Besides the dynamite duet with Reba McEntire, the album is full of the kind of music that has made "Brooks & Dunn" the second best selling duo of all time - just behind "Simon & Garfunkel." The strength of this pair, is that much of their work is not true duets. Instead, they take turns soloing, and having the smarts to know which song suits each personality. 

There has been a tremendous publicity whirlwind surrounding this and
Reba's album, since the duet "If You See Him/If You See Her" is on both
albums, and each album is titled after the appropriate portion of the song.
Both Arista and MCA realize the enormous potential tying two of the biggest acts in country together can have for their companies' bottom line. Thus, the unusual cooperation, co-production, and joint release dates of the albums. However, after the furor dies down over the first single there is plenty of good music remaining on both albums. In the case of B&D this is arguably their best album to date. It is wide-ranging in style, but the boys have put their unique imprint on every cut.

From the opening number, "How Long Gone," with it's play on words and
gentle look at the inability of one partner to recognize a relationship is
over, to the heartfelt last song, "You're My Angel," the duo brings deep emotion and a sense of fun to their music.

"I Can't Get Over You" is for those that stumble around in a fog
after losing a love, and the drawn out "I" in the chorus is almost a wail of
agony. The title track may get all the attention, but for my money "South Of Santa Fe" is one of the best love songs to hit the stores in quite a while. "Tatooed on my memory is the image of an angel's face/ North of Heaven. South of Santa Fe." I could listen to this refrain (and did) for days.

The title song, as mentioned previously, is a terrific duet about pride
getting in the way of love, and I find it interesting that B&D chose to do a
cover of Roger Miller's "Husbands & Wives" on this album, which also dwells on pride breaking up a marriage. The fact that it made me think about it says a lot about the thought process that goes into song choices on albums. At least I'd like to think that B&D chose Miller's song for that reason.

"Brand New Whiskey" is a good honky-tonk tune, made for the dance floor and singing along. I have a few names to suggest too. If ever there was a song made for Brooks & Dunn, "Born And Raised In Black And White" fits the bill. The stark contrast of the two's looks, and yet similar voices, gives this song about brothers gone opposite ways a real impact. Hopefully, they're doing this number on their concert tour, because this song is made for a visual impact.

Driving in the car there are always certain songs that just go along
for the ride, and "Your Love Don't Take A Backseat To Nothing" is one of them. The play on words is obvious. However, two songs with "gone" in the title on the same album isn't a good sign, and "Way Gone" probably should have gone the way of those that didn't make the cut. It's the only song on the album that I truly skipped over. It sounds like a weak musical imitation of the Stray Cats "She's Sixteen," but without the lyrics or sexy video.

Another "love is gone" song follows, but has a nice hook. "When Love
Dies" - it don't rest in peace. The final cut on the album is an uplifting
spiritual of a song, "You're My Angel," and outside of "Santa Fe," is
probably the most moving song on the album, "If You See Him/If You See Her" notwithstanding. Brooks and Dunn have done it again, so "if you see it," buy it.