Vandoliers - Life Behind Bars

4.2

Rating

4.2/5

Flyctory.com Pros

Characteristic country music style
Nice storytelling
Good arrangements

Country music offers a widespread range of sounds and songs. The Vandoliers from Texas are rather on the edges of it, mixing rock and punk elements into their music. The fans like it – and thus, Life Behind Bars is already the fifth studio album by the sextet. I had a listen to the 27th July 2025 release.

Vandoliers – About The Artists

The Vandoliers are an alternative country and Americana rock band, which has been formed in 2015 by their lead singer and guitarist Jenni Rose. The other band members are nowardays Cory Tidbit Graves (keys, trumpet, bass), Dustin Captain D Fleming (guitar, pedal steel), Papi Trey Alfaro (drums), Travis The Mummy Curry (fiddle) and Mark Squatcher Moncrieff. In 2016, they released their debut album Ameri-Kinda. There were three additional albums until today, the last one being the 2022 The Vandoliers.

Vandoliers – Life Behind Bars – Track by Track

The ten track album lasts 35 minutes.

1. Dead Canary

Trumpets can be very country-alike – that’s what already the first tunes of Life Behind Bars suggests. The Vandoliers show a very joyful song at the beginning of their album, which comes with country music vibes – and a very own twist.

2. Life Behind Bars

The title track is second and comes with full guitar chords right a the beginning. I spent my life behind bars, states the chorus. And leads into a very entertaining, easy country song. I like it.

3. Your Picture

The fiddle is opening for Your Picture. The song describes watching an old picture. Your gorgeous face has never aged, but I’ve grown on, states the singer with full admiration. The slower track spreads a lot of country swag. Finally, the song is a lovely love song with a beautiful metaphor behind it.

4. Bible Belt

The fourth track of Life Behind Bars is Bible Belt. The song rather leans towards country pop. Nonetheless, it also has a rather traditional touch in the arrangement. The chorus stays into mind. I really like that one.

5. Thoughts and Prayers

The Vandoliers manage to travel back in time in that one. The groovy song with zesty piano lines rather reminds me of the 1960’s. However, the song also has a very modern touch, so that it does not feel square or outdated.

6. You Can’t Party With The Lights On (feat. Joshua Ray Walker & Taylor Hunnicutt)

Coming rather in a later 1970’s swag, the Vandoliers keep a nostalgic feeling in their 2025 album. I like the pedal steel in this song. Especially country music traditionalists might like that one – if they enjoy the special way of telling stories by these guys.

7. Valencia

The Iberian temper becomes present from the very first moments of Valencia. The Vandoliers mix country elements with Spanish music in this song. Surprisingly, it works well. It feels like summer and like dancing the flamenco. Your cowboy boots might just not be the right shoes for this attitude.

8. Jim’s Barn

In the eighth song of Life Behind Bars, the band takes you to Jim’s Barn. After a slower start, the rhythmic track feels like a great soundtrack for a country music party. Maybe you add this one to your dancing playlist as well? I definitely enjoyed its 3:19 minutes – even though they state that this barn is gonna burn, burn, burn.

9. Evergreen

The snappy party vibes continue with Evergreen. The song is slower and not as present as the song before, but it comes with a good rhythm and some nice sing along parts. I like the ease of the penultimate song of the record.

10. Dead in a Ditch

The ballad-esque Dead in a Ditch closes the album. The track is a beautiful love song, which could be the last, intimate dance of a long country music evening as well. Thus, it feels like the perfect ending of an enjoyable country music listen as well.

Vandoliers – Life Behind Bars – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

Vandoliers – Life Behind Bars – My View

The Vandoliers made me smile. Life Behind Bars nicely illustrates their very own style of narrating country music stories. They can ask you for a dance or simply following their emotions – and both seems to work. It is not a top notch album, but also not that far away from it.

Favorite Song: Jim’s Barn

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