CD Review

Artist: Ridley Bent

Title: Buckles & Boots

Label: Open Road Records

Publicity: Killbeat Music

Released: October 29^th 2007 

4 ½ Stars 

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey 

Although my Country & Western days have come and gone (it was a thing!), I could quite easily get addicted again after listening to Ridley Bent’s debut album Buckles & Boots. This is a mint collection of eleven tracks that are character driven tales of love, fun, and some rowdy cowboy lifestyle; that starts with a great rodeo intro for ‘Slim Chance.’ Buckles and Boots has a great tongue-in-cheek nature to the songs at times, but also are full of interesting stories, making this album easy to listen to.  

Catchy storytelling set to lyrics may be Bent’s style, but it is the melodies that are memorable and his delivery which is equally unique. It is true to say that Ridley Bent is a throwback to the music legends previous to the post-Chris Gaines-generation; artists like Johnny Cash, George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton. The music was a canvas for imagery and emotion before all these vague declarations of love and what it means to be a cowboy/girl that these present day country and western singers seem to sing about. Mind you, Bent’s songs aren’t just a repetition of the oldies and goodies, he has mixed the storytelling that made the legends…well the legends, with a bit of belting guitar and violin, with a knack for telling stories about people today and events today. Drug busts in schools or girlfriends with ‘Faded Red Hoodies’ are the subject matter of this well-shaped debut.      

Easy hits are found in the title track ‘Buckles and Boots,’ ‘Nine Inch Nails’ (which was hilarious to hear WolfMother and Nine Inch Nails in a C&W track!) and ‘Faded Red Hoodie.’ But other tracks, perhaps not set for the top ten but ‘gems’ among a solid collection could be found in the poetic ‘Arlington’ and the quasi-rap track with a brilliant guitar solo ‘Apache Hairlifter.’  

Bent needs no introduction; when he makes his first music video, he’ll hit the country and western world stage with a tidal wave force that will have a huge rippling after affect.  

Slim Chance (Rodeo Intro)

Buckles & Boots

Nine Inch Nails

Cry

Heartland Heartbreak

Arlington

Stand In Line

Bobby and Suzanne

Faded Red Hoodie

Mama

Apache Hairlifter