Sleepy Bronco Drops An Honest Record And Southern Toned EP
It has been quite some time since I've heard a record blend indie, country, Americana, roots folk, and hints of rockabilly like the new Sleepy Bronco record.
This release features amazing storytelling, detailed lyrics that paint pictures in your head as the songs unfold, loads of southern-tinged swagger, and lush instrumentation that evokes classic country and makes you want to get up and dance, all wrapped up in one wonderfully woven EP.
One of my favorite aspects of this release is its honesty. It definitely has some deep cuts that are still fun, but showcase a lot of personality, and I think that's a big part of what you get attached to as the record plays through.
The release is called The Burden And The Bliss, and it certainly doesn't waste much time getting down to it with its first track, "Clear, Clean, Whole and Free".
What's amazing about this track is the simple fact that it starts off with such deepening lyrics, articulated in a way that you can completely understand and relate to.
This track is about meeting someone who basically drives you crazy. They make you question yourself, everyone else, and you feel like you're sort of holding on for dear life.
This is a great example of how the artist is able to open up and really let all those inner thoughts come spilling out for all to soak in.
It's a little bit vulnerable, but that's fine. That's what it's meant for. He's speaking truths and being honest. But again, it's the way that the listener can actually connect with it that has the biggest impact.
It feels like a song for a lot of us who have been in that situation.
It hits a certain way because even if we have been through that situation, a lot of us don't know how to articulate that process into words, let alone words and music, so when we hear a song like this, we feel less alone.
This is live percussion, and based on acoustic guitar, but it still has this almost edginess in its undertone.
Some of that comes from the lyrics and how blunt they are, but it also comes from the way he sings. The vocals on the record almost lean towards pop punk at times.
This is an amazing blend. The combination of southern roots Country, with pop punk elements, makes this unique and lets it breed an atmosphere that is all its own.
It's also a great song to open up the record with because you're being introduced to some of the great staples you're going to hear throughout the rest of the EP.
"Hostage Situation" brings us into more of that southern tonality with amazing violins that fiddle along and give the song a swing sort of rhythm, double-tracked vocals that add thickness to the performance, and that very danceable vibe.
Songs like "How To Run" also deliver a lot of that Honesty, painting that picture from a personal situation and giving you his perspective on things.
I like songs like this as well because they feel a little bit more stripped down and personal. Even though there are still violins flowing through the backbone of the song, it feels like a one-on-one performance.
This is another aspect of the record that wraps itself around you. A lot of the songs put you in the moment with them.
The performance vocally and instrumentally set the mood, while the lyrics paint the picture, and the two of those elements connect beautifully throughout the entire thing.
"Shelter from the Cold", in my opinion, is one of the most radio-friendly songs. It definitely has that drive; the drums are a bit louder in the mix on this one, and it's got a killer energy to it that sort of grabs at you.
The record closes with the track called "Time is not Your Friend", and this one is such a great way to close the record out because it hits you with another robust set of truths that may be difficult to chew on, but it's still genuine.
A lot about this record is unafraid, and I love that approach because he gives the whole record a very unique aesthetic.
This is an EP worth listening to all the way through from start to finish. This way, you get all the stories displayed almost like chapters in the artist's life.
So, don't miss out on this one because it's definitely its own thing, but it still feels so boisterous, honest, genuine, and bears that classic southern tone blending with a current pop overtone that really makes it unique.
Dig into this record now so you can hear exactly where I'm coming from.
