Redneck Buddha has recently been one of the most active bands to come out of the indie scene in Puerto Rico’s west-coast. After killing it in various shows at spots like Mayagüez’s Off The Wall and La Tertulia en mi Tierra, the power-trio released their latest single, “The Siren and the Sailor” on February 5th. The song, influenced by the ballads of 1950s rock-and-roll, demonstrates another side to this garage-punk band, and will have listeners dancing like it was prom night.
(artwork for the single as found on their Soundcloud page)
After releasing their three-song Untitled Demo, a garage-rock single with “Sewer Rat”, and leaving their mark in a slew of shows all around 2017 and early 2018, one could say that listeners wanted Redneck Buddha to release new music. Thus, after a few months of hard work, the west-coast based trio has finally released a new tune in the form of “The Siren and the Sailor”.
While many might argue that they should’ve released a tune more geared towards their usual garage-rock sound, I believe it is easy to see why they would drop this single specifically in the month of February, after all it is the month of love and friendship. Strategically promoting the ballad in the time of love, Redneck Buddha provides a story driven song about a drowning sailor and the siren which helped him forget about his forthcoming departure. While it may not exactly be a love song, one could definitely see elements of said theme in the simple tale.
(Redneck Buddha art by Frank García as found on their Facebook Page)
Inspired by the ballads of 1950s rock and roll, the latest track from the horror-punk influenced band demonstrates that they can do more than just make the audience head-bang and start a mosh pit. As seen in a few of their performances, with “The Siren and the Sailor,” Buddha makes listeners slow dance alone, with their loved one, or even a friend, making this a great addition to everyone’s Valentine’s Day playlist. The song takes listeners on a ride, making them want to dress like they came straight out of Grease, or the proms in from Napoleon Dynamite or Back to the Future. The power-trio’s latest release shows their ability to explore different sounds while maintaining their identity.
(picture of audience members dancing to “The Siren and the Sailor” in Redneck Buddha’s last performance in La Tertulia en mi Tierra)
Redneck Buddha’s latest single demonstrates their growth as a band. While most of their repertoire consists of horror-themed garage-rock, “The Siren and the Sailor,” shows their ability to make not only a ballad, but a danceable one at that. Moreover, the trio continues to present their multiple influences, this time around being 1950s rock-and-roll ballads. In sum, Redneck Buddha continues to evidence why they are one of the hottest bands in the west-coast’s indie scene.
Listen to “The Siren and the Sailor” on Soundcloud here
Listen to Redneck Buddha on Spotify here