By the time "Cowboy Song" begins to spin in the ol' CD player, it quickly becomes apparent that the guys in Slick Pelt not only have their balls to the wall, but they clearly enjoy them being there.

In addition to the aforementioned track two, much of the material on "XXX Rodeo" is a hybrid of rock, rockabilly, country, and even surf, performed exceptionally well. Easily accessible to a cross-section of music lovers due to its inherently modern touches, "XXX Rodeo is a complexly arranged throwback to a simpler, mid-20th century time. Shades of Elvis, Stray Cats, and the Brian Setzer Orchestra are evident on those tunes, each performed with an uninhibited and unabashed rawness.

The albums 13 cuts will easily assure fans of the rockabilly genre that there are exceptional musicians afoot making great new music.

The lead off track, "Three Good Reasons," sets the tone for the entire album, with whammy bar bends and a raucous arrangement of yips and yelps, all of which add to the song's intense mood. On "Ya Ya," singer Berlingo sounds like the Cars' Rik Ocasek fronting the Ramones, and the turbo-powered thump of "Magdalena's" "do-wop-bop, do-wop-bop-bop" is an album highpoint.

Of particular note is "Lonely," a tune which finds the group taking a rare turn on a slow waltz as lead vocalist Manny Berlingo sings: "I've found that lonely is my closest friend / I can always depend on when the hard times begin / She knows all my troubles through thick and through thin / I've found that lonely is my closest friend."

Other standouts include the musical prowl of "First Date (The Alexandra Story)" and the upbeat pop of "Sad Songs."

Tasteful touches of unconventional rock instrumentation (such as banjo and accordion) only help to add to the party atmosphere, yet Slick Pelt members confidently maintain the ease with which they convey their tunes. Not only is "XXX Rodeo" fearless in its creativity, but flawless in its execution as well. An across-the-board essential album for any and all collections.

- by Lisa Fairbanks © 2000 Drezdon Media
Originally published in Rhythm and News magazine, January 2000