Though Dawn Landes claims she is not referencing The Byrds' classic album of 1968 in the title of her new album, one has to wonder if she chose the title simply to challenge the old guard. Throwing down this gauntlet however, may present it's own challenges as listeners struggle to get past the title.

Those that choose not to judge an album by its' title though will be rewarded with what is essentially a remarkably good album and one that sets even more challenges, musically speaking.

To clear any confusion up, Landes states the title is in fact a reference to her grandmother and the boy she pursued as a young lass at the local rodeo. So it's not surprising that many of the songs here are cute and innocent, and generally upbeat and positive.

From the get-go Landes makes her proclamation. She is not, as some have have expected, a mere wallflower to husband Josh Ritter. Rather, Landes songcraft uses a varied palette to paint expressions of relationships in their gestation period.

'Young Girl' shows a feisty and, some may say sultry, Landes, with a throwback rock n' roll swagger backed by a swinging beat. The backing vocals, organ and handclaps gives the opening track an early seventies authenticity.

'Money in the Bank' is a gentle and fragile tune, with a vocal delivery taken straight from Chan Marshall's Idiot's Guide. The brass section in the chorus adds weight and prevents the track from floating off into the distance without purpose.

The title track is another sultry offering, this time with a dark and twisted combination of pedal steel and mandolin. The song picks up the pace though, with some neat harmonica placement and baritone backing vocals taking the listener to the dusty and violent rodeo stalls.

Landes toys with cheap keyboards on more than one occasion on Sweet Heart Rodeo, inviting the ire of detractors. Sometimes it works - the cutesy, Casiotone-based 'Clown' being the prime example - but other times it falls flat, primarily on the psychedelic throwaway 'Love'.

Inexpensive keys again form the basis of 'Wandering Eye' - another whimsical and love-drunk tune that trips along unsteadily, it's fragility cute and endearing, whilst the brief 'Dance Area' recalls the melodic, hazy days of Mazzy Star.

Though ill-titled, Sweet Heart Rodeo is likely to be the breakthrough album for Landes and of this years' finest.

Watch the video to 'Young Girl' on Stereogum.