Disappear for twenty-four hours with the Tulsa, Oklahoma native Kaitlin Butts on her third album ‘Roadrunner!' which is a high-concept album, celebrating and responding to her favourite musical, Rogers & Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma!.'
A fearless songwriter, Kaitlin is also an artist with a radiant, astute voice, and Roadrunner! is a lyrical riot of heel-kicking energy, with the authentic fringe on top. The 1940s Rogers and Hammerstein production of Oklahoma! is her favourite musical and an abridged ‘Overture' starts the album, before kicking into the track two and the title, ‘Roadrunner' an up-tempo swing-style number that indeed resembles the fast-running ground cuckoo.
Natalie Hemby joined Kaitlin to co-write ‘Other Girls (Ain’t Havin’ Any Fun)' which starts out as a ballad putting a contemporary spin on the original musical song ‘I Can’t Say No' before tearing into a rock-tinged rebel yell of female empowerment. Hemby also co-wrote the mid-tempo ‘You Ain’t Gotta Die To Be Dead To Me' continuing the theme of strong women that runs throughout the album.
Angaleena Pressley co-wrote ‘That’ll Never Be Me,' an upbeat ballad, championing female independence, while Megan James joined Kaitlin to co-write ‘Spur' a downbeat ballad reinforcing the need for equality in relationships with a metaphor of how a mare should be handled.
One of the most fun tracks on Roadrunner! is ‘Wild Juanita’s Cactus Juice' with steel and fiddle a-plenty on the square dance of a song. Spin through the fruit stall roadside stand for the good stuff behind the counter, which just might save the world.
Fellow Oklahoman, Country legend and more recently an Eagle, Vince Gill lends his vocals to the sublime ballad ‘Come Rest Your Head' (inspired by a t-shirt highlighting cowboy pillows, which immediately appealed to Butts’ brand of storytelling; have fun and make a point for society).
Husband Cleto Cordero (lead singer-songwriter in Flatland Cavalry) joins Kaitlin on the classic song from the musical Oklahoma, ‘People Will Say We’re In Love,' which he was introduced to in lockdown by Kaitlin.
‘If I Can’t Have You' is a rocking roll through four minutes of Margo-price sounding music, with a pounding drum beat that pays a sinister homage to the musical’s storyline featuring love competitor Jud Fry. Spoiler alert, he meets his maker in the haunting Sonny Bono cover ‘Bang Bang (Poor Jud Is Dead)'
If you follow Kaitlin Butts on streaming devices, you’ve likely already heard ‘Hunt You Down' an engaging, fringe-shaking ditty of a warning song, brilliantly contrasted by the sweet sound of Butts’ vocals. An EP featuring six versions of this song was released in March.
With that in mind, how does an almost double-track album work in the age of distraction, when we’re all so busy and there are so many artists to choose from? Do yourself a favour and listen in full to ‘Roadrunner!' as it’s presented, whether you’re on your way to work, whipping through housework or pounding a treadmill.
Produced by Oran Thornton (Brent Cobb, Logan Brill), Roadrunner! marks a definite shift from Butts’ 2022 sophomore LP ‘What Else Can She Do,' which was a character-driven exploration of complex matters like addiction, domestic violence, and generational trauma. Stalwart musicians including Russ Pahl (Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves) and Lex Price (Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum) ensure that ‘Roadrunner!' is a great album for fans of Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves and Margo Price.
Kaitlin Butts has embarked on a huge US tour, and she’ll visit the UK in August for The Load Road festival and solo dates across the country. I absolutely cannot wait for the journey Kaitlin will take us on for her stage show Sunday set. Expect fringe, fun and excellent musicianship.
Track list: 1. OVERTURE: My New Life Starts Today 2. Roadrunner 3. Other Girls (Ain’t Havin’ Any Fun) 4. Wild Juanita’s Cactus Juice 5. Soliloquy: Out Of My Dreams 6. Come Rest Your Head (feat. Vince Gill) 7. People Will Say We’re In Love (feat. Cleto Cordero) 8. Buckaroo – written by Kaitlin Butts 9. That’ll Never Be Me 11. Spur 12. If I Can’t Have You 13. Bang, Bang (Poor Jud is Dead) 14. You Ain’t Gotta Die To Be Dead To Me 15. Like I Should 16. Hunt You Down 17. Followed You To Vegas 18. Elsa Record Label: Soundly Music Release date: 28th June 2024 Buy the album now.
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