The PhiLL(er)



Brent Amaker and the Rodeo Cover
Brent Amaker and the Rodeo

Brent Amaker and the Rodeo
J-Shirt Records

This is a fun record. Kind of. If you're in the mood to listen to amusing lyrics then it's worth putting into the stereo, but that's about as far as it goes. Musically it's pretty unambitious, unoriginal stuff—straight from the Johnny Cash school of songwriting and playing, right down to the singer's voice. And you can imagine that if, instead of being dead, Johnny Cash had been in his twenties in 2007, he might've been singing songs with titles like "New Age Sissy Cowboy" and "I Guess You Wanna Die". Which is all well and good, but makes me think, why not just listen to Johnny Cash? Most of the ten songs clock in around the two and a half minute mark. The Rodeo is rather fond of—and good at—backing shouts and hollers, especially on "Get the Hell Out". This band would be fun as a warm-up act, but it doesn't really sustain interest for the whole duration of this twenty-three minute record.