With the Guthries spread far and wide across the countrys music scene, songwriter/pedal steel player Dale Murray continues the bands roots rock approach on his debut solo album. Brighter Lives, Darker Side happily cribs from some of the best and Murrays influences arrive from far and wide. His love for country is still apparent on songs like `Dont Wanna See` and Liverpudlian harmonies abound on intro pop-rocker `Driving Song,` `On His Line` and `When Its Gone.` In fact, Murray is at his most comfortable channeling the quiet Beatle with Harrison slide licks adorning a couple of the albums stronger tunes such as `The Way Back.` ... The lyrics never quite reach the class of his melodies, instrumentation and production, but on those last three points, Brighter Lives scores all tens. -- Brent Hagerman, exlaim.ca
