Rodeo FM take the small town storytelling that makes folk rock and country so endearing and stick to that style for a six track EP that’s a joy to go through from start to finish. You’re compelled to sing along to each track, with each of them bringing an innate jingle and hook to fall into. The Berlin based group are storytellers in both melody and theme, illustrating their own storied journey with many tales to go alongside. Across their fifteen year career, playing in dingy cellars, beer tents, night clubs, and more, they’ve got a lot to say.
The song writing is top notch, with hints of political progressivism strewn across these storied tales. On ‘Worthless Gain’, the continual acoustic jingle that strums behind just adds an air of what I like to call ‘campfire energy’ over the tune. Rodeo FM definitely draw from the forefathers of folk, with stylistic resemblance to artists like CSNY and Dylan being quite evidently distinguishable in both their form and their content. Particularly, the groups continual decrying of late capitalism has the latter’s influence quite markedly painted all over. Their second track, ‘All the things you asked for’ is a glowing example of this. Left wing country? Perhaps.
For those who like their music with a message, who like to hear stories in each piece, ‘All the things you asked for’ has it in droves. As a devout Dylan fan myself, it’s refreshing to hear artists of today the minimal focus and contemplative lyricism that had him stand out so resoundingly. The sing along energy and the jovial melody all makes the rather glum topics sound something to dance for.