Breaking alternative artist Oliver Jordan released his genre-spanning new album “Death Rodeo” today, available to stream on all digital platforms. A blur of carnality and comedy, these 11 songs are a fast-moving cyclone, the chaos of living enacted with a toothy smile that only the most dogged and courageous can understand.
At barely over 37 minutes, “Death Rodeo” is a bracing tour through loneliness, self-examination, and the ridiculous. It’s a collection that seems both devastating and weirdly comforting, an album that knows life can be brutal but refuses to refrain from laughing anyway. Although listeners might hear melancholy first in the songs, an unmistakable undercurrent of wicked humor runs through the lyrics and the jagged guitar lines. “The songs just come out that way. I think a lot of them are funny, but you have to have that kind of humor, I guess,” Oliver says.
Among the highlights, “New Smile” is a twisted meditation on self-renewal, oozing sardonic wit and gorgeous melody. Meanwhile, “Sick Season” is an ode to anyone stuck in emotional limbo, its haunting vocals and moody atmosphere leaving a lasting impression long after the final chord rings out.
Each track sounds crafted to a fare-thee-well, but brutally candid, from the destructive chaos of the opener to the bittersweet finale. Whether the subjects are cynical fits of existential dread or the absurdities of being waist-deep in this thing of ours, Jordan covers it with an acid pen and an even sharper edge.
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