Shooter Jennings | Electric Rodeo

After reading a raving Guitar magazine review on Shooter Jennings' Put The O Back In Country - and the simple fact of Shooter being the only son of Country Outlaw Legend Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter - I immediately checked out his first album. To be honest, I was quite blown away by the salt-of-the-earth attitude, the simple but forcefull arrangements and the clever recycling of country rock licks. Shooter's directness is something else than the so-called 'rock' of The Arctic Monkeys or whimps alike. This is music for real folks.

April 4th 2006 he released his second album, Electric Rodeo. From the title track to closer It Ain't Easy, Shooter and his Southern boys serve a fine piece of rockin' country that could - and should - start a revival of the Country Outlaw Scene of the '70ies. Personally I hear a lot of Lynyrd Skynyrd's, Waylon's and Cash's influences on Electric Rodeo, not really surprising indeed, but a song like Bad Magick adds a dark Zep meets Sabbath-esque atmosphere. Little White Lines shows the strong ability to mix country and rock, too. On his first album Shooter seems to have more '70ies rock and riff-based songs; on Electric Rodeo he leans a little more towards country arrangements. Too bad there are too many ballads, Electric Rodeo could easily do without The Song Is Still Slipping Away and Aviators. But he never gets corny or cheesy, a heritage of Waylon's Outlaw Attitude. Simply listen to the I-know-where-to-go determination in Gone To Carolina and Some Rowdy Women. Just like any other Shooter composition, it's in your face from the get-go. Yep, here's a stand-up guy that couldn't care less about marketing strategies, image building and the hypes of the day. And that's exactly why Shooter is a worthy addition to American Rock 'n' Roll.

Go ahead and check his website 'cause I expect Shooter to grow quite a following. You don't have to be into country to join the party! And Shooter, come and visit Europe some time soon. You'll like it over here.

Mike

www.shooterjennings.com
View video for 'Gone To Carolina'