Videos by American Songwriter
Spaghetti western guitar riffs. Train beat percussion. Deep, rumbling vocals. Songs about death and tequila. No, it isn’t the soundtrack to an unreleased Quentin Tarantino movie; it’s Year Of The Dragon, the newest release from Brent Amaker and the Rodeo. Clocking in at 13 tracks, Year Of The Dragon walks a fine line between straight-faced country and tongue-in-cheek pastiche… and it takes the best parts from both sides.
“Western cinematic music has always been an inspiration for us,” says Amaker, who formed the band in 2005. “But what has really shaped our sound is our travels as a band. On our new track “Country Sky,” I talk about the experience of getting away from the bright lights of the city. Out on the road, away from it all, a man has time to reflect. It brings a certain amount of clarity and perspective. And through that experience, I’ve determined that I’m damn lucky to get up each day and play music with these guys. I believe everyone in the band feels the same. And somehow, I think that feeling is now present in our songs.”
I love this album. Their album Please Stand By is pure gold too