The Shootouts is a band that came together because of a love of classic country music among its members. You don’t have to listen to much of their music to hear how classic country has influenced the band’s sound.
On their new album Bullseye, the band continues to explore not only classic country, but also western swing and some of the sound that signature Bakersfield sound.
When you listen to the first three songs on the album, you notice that each one has a vastly different feel even though all three have very familiar themes especially in country songs. “I Don’t Think about You Anymore” is a swinging song about being heartbroken. This one is similar in tone to BR5-49 – fitting considering it was produced by Chuck Mead – and is sure to get people moving on a dance floor. That is followed by “Rattlesnake Whiskey,” a song about moonshiners. The tone in this one is fittingly dark for the narrator, who knows that one way or another moonshine will kill him. “Another Mother” is a heartfelt ballad about appreciating your mom because you don’t get another one when her time is up. Don’t be surprised if you get a bit emotional when you hear this one.
If you like the way “I Don’t Think about You Anymore” gets you moving, you’re in luck because there are plenty more songs you can dance to. When you see the title “Hurt Heartbroke”, you might be prepared for a song about crying in your beer. That’s not the case. This is an uptempo tune that will get you moving as well as any song by BR5-49. The title track is instrumental, but it is a good western swing tune made for getting people moving around a dance floor.
“Missing the Mark” feels a lot like a Waylon Jennings song. It comes through in pretty much every part of the song. You can hear it in the rhythm section that doesn’t necessarily come to the forefront, but neither is it content to remain in the background. You definitely hear it in the guitar and the pedal steel. On top of that, it is also a song that people can sing and dance to in a dark honky tonk.
There’s nothing surprising about sad themes in country songs. However, it takes a certain something to sing about being sad and still get people dancing. That is the real triumph of this album – pairing sad themes with melodies that make it impossible to remain still. This album is a solid follow-up to Quick Draw and really should be in your collection if you’re a fan of classic country and western swing.
Photo by Jamie Escola
