Graham Reid (NZ Herald Time Out)
Named after the classic car (and not presumably the explorer) this Auckland-based outfit peel off a substantial slice of professionally delivered, wide-screen country-rock which owes much to the Petty/Springsteen/Neil Young and Travelling Wilburys axis, and mostly kicks things up a notch from the Warratahs.
With a couple of writers in their ranks there is also a pleasing diversity here, although sometimes they reference their influences just a little too much for any accusations of originality to be thrown.
When they nail something of their own – the tense jangle of The Spirit, the tight churn of Greedy Men, the heartfelt Offline – they offer songs which are classy and fully formed.
From the opener 59 Cadillac through to the ballads in the closing overs, this is enjoyable rockin’ country music full of twang and backbeat which sounds even better when a ribbon of highway stretches out ahead and you are in no hurry.
As the opener says, ‘there ain’t nothin’ like rain on a two lane, driving fast with the radio on’.
Well, someone’s already supplying the rain, The DeSotos have the soundtrack.
