Just because you’re a country singer doesn’t mean you need to wear a Stetson. Indeed, the less stereotypical tropes associated with the genre adopted, usually the better. After all, Johnny Cash only ever wore black and it made him one of the all time greats.
With that advice firmly in mind, Scottish country band Dropkick are back with a new three-track EP Style. And the title is hugely appropriate, as these guys really know how to play in a stylish, classy, tradition busting way.
Gentle, smiling and with a flavour for the very best of Americana, Dropkick tick all the boxes. This latest offering is an accomplished piece that shows off a musical prowess and comfort that only comes about from experience.
Their story is a good one, brothers Andrew and Alastair Taylor forming the group in the late 90s and working their way up from the bottom. Capturing that irrepressible sound of US country and its positive, often uplifting manner isn’t something that comes easy. Indeed, most try but few fail miserably. Dropkick, on the other hand, are a blueprint for the right way to do things.
Eponymous opener ‘Style’ comes from the morose side of the genre while second track ‘Things I Meant to Say’ kicks things into a bit more action. Drawing on the great softly spoken folk and country bands of yesteryear, this is an EP of solid, professional musicianship and lyric writing that both dazzles and endears itself to the listener.
‘I Me My Mine’ closes out the trio and behaves as a pleasant, if slightly cautionary tale that keeps with the best country traditions. There aren’t any songs about dead dogs or cheating wives here but that doesn’t take away from the country credentials. If anything it adds to them, giving the whole work a degree of credibility that’s often shirked in releases like this.
Thoroughly good fun and a joy to listen to, Dropkick’s new EP is a must have for the dark winter. It’ll still be on your playlist when the sun comes back out to play.
@isthismusic Thanks for the nice review chaps. Much appreciated
Nice review of our STYLE EP http://t.co/pqsRDQdls9
RT @isthismusic: EP review – Dropkick – ‘Style’ : – http://t.co/P06vPmaIdw @dropkickmusic