Brooks & Dunn Albums Ranked

Brooks & Dunn are an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, both of whom are vocalists and songwriters. The duo was founded in 1990 through the suggestion of Tim DuBois. Before the foundation, both members were solo recording artists. Both members charted two solo singles apiece in the 1980s, with Brooks also releasing an album for Capitol Records in 1989 and writing hit singles for other artists. The duo’s material is known for containing influences of honky-tonk, mainstream country, and rock, as well as the contrast between their singing voices and on-stage personalities, although some of their music has also been criticized as formulaic. Their 1992 single “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” helped repopularize line dancing in the United States, and 2001’s “Only in America” was used by both George W. Bush and Barack Obama in their respective presidential campaigns. Brooks and Dunn have collaborated with several artists, including Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Mac Powell, Billy Gibbons, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Luke Combs. After announcing their retirement in August 2009, they performed their final concert on September 2, 2010, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Both Brooks and Dunn have continued to record for Arista Nashville as solo artists. Dunn released a self-titled album in 2011, which included the top-10 country hit “Bleed Red”, while Brooks released New to This Town in September 2012. The duo reunited in 2015 for a series of concerts with Reba McEntire in Las Vegas. In 2019, the duo was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Here are all of Brooks & Dunn albums ranked.

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10. Hillbilly Deluxe 

“Hillbilly Deluxe, their second to last album before disbanding, shows that the duo can take risks but also manage to return to form rather seamlessly, offering thirteen tracks that cater to the brand of country Brooks & Dunn know best – the kind that involves partying, drinking, basking in one’s faith, and reminding of loves gone past. Their opener, “Play Something Country,” shows what happens when Brooks & Dunn begin to tow the line of flashy, commercial territory in their attempts at rekindling a honkytonk vibe. What results is a song that gives shoutouts to George Jones and Alan Jackson but does little to give the kind of rollicking good time that other Brooks & Dunn tunes have (including the brilliantly subtle, dichotomous sound conveyed in “Red Dirt Road”).”

9. If You See Her 

“It’s the late 1990’s and Brooks & Dunn have already made themselves an established name in country music. With several smash singles, four strong albums, and a chemistry that is equal parts visceral and dynamic, there is no sign of them loosening up or losing their talent. Their fifth album, If You See Her, while never matching the greatness that came with their previous work Borderline, which I still consider the best thing Brooks & Dunn ever released, the strength of this particular work lies in the duo’s ability to conjure up melodies and, in a greater sense, a concept album.”

8. Red Dirt Road 

“Nearly every country artist caters to nostalgia at one point in their career – Kenny Chesney and Colt Ford, for instance, have built their very careers off of the fabled golden age of America. While the idea of fawning over days gone past isn’t an inherently bad idea, it often provides for some contrivances or missteps along the way, especially with what we have before us with Brooks & Dunn’s eighth album Red Dirt Road. There’s a perfunctory element that we hope the album doesn’t bear, and there’s a certain quality standard from this duo, at least at this given time in their career, that we hope they uphold.”

7. Cowboy Town 

“On the official 12-track release the tracks are very radio friendly clearly contemporary country, and there are just 3 songs, that I rate. But on the extended release they add 3 more tracks. Which for me are all very good songs, a lot more memorable and country than the majority of the tracks that made the original release. These tracks have a more of 90’s country feel to them – and are a vast improvement. This is the sound and feel I want to hear – but clearly country radio doesn’t.”

6. Borderline 

“The album opens with “My Maria,” arguably one of my favorite, if not my favorite, Brooks & Dunn song. This is the song that really captures the talent of these two different men that, through their own contrasting skills and personalities, create a duo that works on all levels musically. Brooks is mostly segregated to backing vocals in a tone that’s yearning and wanting more, though that doesn’t shortchange his talent of capturing essence. While Brooks helps elevate a mood, truthfully, this song is mostly Dunn’s, as his loud, high-pitched voice takes over, with the yodeling coming through on the chorus so elegantly. Especially when looking at the chorus or the lines leading up to the chorus, we see surmounting angst and vocal precision build through his range.”

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5. The Greatest Hits Collection 

“This album is truly a collection of great hits, without one single miss. It has a great mix of foot-tappers, sing-alongs and classics that can easily keep a country music lover entertained for an hour or more. This CD should never leave your stereo!”

4. Hard Workin’ Man 

“It is hard to believe Brooks & Dunn’s Hard Workin’ Man is almost twenty years old. It is interesting to think how much mainstream pop music has changed over the this time frame, but how comparatively little popular country music has changed. This album does sound slightly dated, but I think it would still blend well with modern country music. It also helps that Hard Workin’ Man is one of the strongest Brooks & Dunn albums. Their forthcoming albums have a tendency to come across too soft for my tastes but this album sticks more to the redneck side of country which is the strength of the duo.”

3. Brand New Man 

“Over 20 years later, this is still a great album. Yeah, it sounds *slightly* dated, but not adversely so. It’s a relatively short album, clocking in at little over 30 minutes, but there isn’t a truly bad song to be found. It’s easy to see how Brooks & Dunn were an instant hit at the time, and how this album catapulted them to a 20 year run filled with hit songs, albums & awards. What makes this album more relevant decades later than other popular country works of the early 90’s is that Brooks & Dunn found just the right mixture of pop and classic country without overdosing on either – sounds simple, but it’s a balance that is remarkably difficult to maintain. Few managed to do it as well as these two.”

2. Steers & Stripes 

“Steers & Stripes surprises with its glossier country sound, but it’s reassuring to note that the songwriting and singing talents of Brooks and Dunn are still in place here. While previous albums put heavy emphasis on what the duo can do when they are given the microphone separately, this release shows what happens when they share it, with songs bursting with life thanks to Brooks’ laidback tone and Dunn’s expressiveness. There’s a hearty, downhome quality about Steers & Stripes, despite its corporate gloss, that makes it shine and a truly impressive piece of work.”

1. Tight Rope 

“Although it did not do well commercially, this album is one of their best in my opinion. Yes Brooks does sing lead vocal on this album more than their others, but I don’t see that as bad thing. Their harmonies, one of their strengths as a duo, are on full display here. That combined with the fun beats and their usual quality of songwriting makes for a must buy album for fan and causal listener alike.”