Sweet Heart Rodeo

Invoking the spirit of Liz Phair, Kentucky’s Dawn Landes sure knows how to craft a slacker anthem. It seems Sweet Heart Rodeo (named after the bloke who left her great-grandmother in favour of joining the rodeo) is a bit of a concept record with each of the 11 tracks acting as its own love story. But don’t let that frankly hokey idea put you off. Landes’ songs are tender, Southern pop tunes, the kind of fare Cat Power would love to wrap her tonsils around. There are a few clunkers (‘Love,’ ‘Clown’) but on the whole Sweet Heart Rodeo is an enjoyable ride.