Janet Devlin – Not My First Emotional Rodeo
Janet Devlin’s Not My First Emotional Rodeo is a 22-track album featuring two live acoustic performances that takes a country-pop approach with nostalgic Americana elements. Throughout the album, Janet reveals not just her vocal skills, but also her feelings and passion for performing. “Daddy,” possibly the most popular song on the album, is a highlight. It has 60s-style electric guitars and a sophisticated pop production. The concentration on uplifting vocal melodies creates a groovy, pleasant atmosphere while the modern, clean mix provides an ethereal and mystical layer that allows the guitars to go along with rather than dominate the vocal performance. The album’s bluesy guitars also add to the nostalgia, but their placement in the mix seems fresh and contemporary, making them part of a groovy adventure rather than a vintage throwback. Songs like “Best in You,” an almost acoustic ballad, reveal Janet’s poetic honesty. The gentle double vocal layering enhance the song’s hazy vibe and show how to create isolated, true musical moments. The album’s final two acoustic live tracks give a pleasant folk touch, while the electric elements fade into the background. This change gives the finale an air of warmth, sweet sorrow, and openness, bringing the record to a calm and spiritually fulfilling close. Overall, Not My First Emotional Rodeo combines modern pop intelligence with old Americana style to create an interesting, atmospheric, and spiritually charged listening experience.
