A Lovely Indie Offering
It seems intrinsically harder for singer/songwriters to stand out in the crowd than bands, but Brooklyn-based songwriter Dawn Landes has already made something of a name for herself performing spirited indie numbers. ‘Sweet Heart Rodeo’ follows up where her 2008 critically acclaimed release ‘Fireproof’ leaves off.
The rodeo theme is apparent for parts of the album, opener ‘Young Girl’ is a great, swaggering rocker with shuffling percussion and a brash, bold chorus that gets the listener excited; it’s a great introduction to Landes’ work. ‘Sweetheart of the Rodeo’ is definitely a stand out track with echoing guitars and a jagged, racing pace setting the all American tune off perfectly. However the Landes’ greatest asset is possibly her versatility, throwing in curved balls like the psychedelic stomper ‘Love’ at regular intervals.
There’s also an abundance of softer, more thoughtful numbers like ‘Romeo’, which is a little soft and twee for my liking, and ‘Money In The Bank’, a slow and sultry tune that aches with introspective emotion. ‘Dance Area’ is equally touching with soft, wistful vocals and a slow, chugging guitar rhythm that complements the charming lyrics, “If you’re going to be a broke little bunny, better get on the floor and dance with me, cos dancing is free”.
Dawn Landes has made another album that’s a real pleasure to hear; it’s well-written and performed with conviction, but with so many similar brooding female vocalists out there at the moment, it’s hard to know whether Landes will become a household name for indie fans anytime soon. ‘Sweet Heart Rodeo’ is most definitely worth a listen in any case as it has plenty of variety to offer.