Over the course of two critically praised albums, Kentucky-raised, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Dawn Landes has found that interesting three-way intersection of loosely structured folksy Americana, cheeky, trendy TV-friendly alt-pop themes and the stripped-to-the-core soft side of indie rock -- all of which add up to what might be termed "garage pop." Throw in a vocal style that's all sexy, diffuse nonchalance and songs that don't so much swagger as saunter and you've got Sweet Heart Rodeo, out in the U.K. now and arriving on this side of the pond January 19 via Cooking Vinyl.

Brit critics have already embraced Landes and her sweetly eccentric new project: "delicately adventurous", declared UNCUT in a five-star review, "feathery acoustic songs that shuffle and sway beautifully." Adds Q: “Her sweet vocals and country-ish musical tilt recall Cat Power, but with a fresh and affirming, rather than jaded, worldview”. Lead single "Romeo" is a stylishly poppy combination of Ingrid Michaelson quirky melody and Feist-ian effervescence while the Pretenderish "Young Girl" is an angsty bit of moxied drive. Smart and oddly endearing, Sweet Heart Rodeo offers up a fresh if at times wistfully moody collection of songs that simply get better with each subsequent listen. Recommended.

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Dawn Landes - "Romeo" (from the album Sweet Heart Rodeo)

Dawn Landes - "Young Girl" (from the album Sweet Heart Rodeo)