Album Review: Pete Cullen - Saltwater Cowboy

Saltwater Cowboy, the second album from Brisbane-based, well-travelled singer-songwriter Pete Cullen, is a countrified collection of heartfelt and personal songs, delivered with an honesty that can only be informed by time spent away from the Big Smoke. And, having spent time throughout his life in trans-coastal locales from Broome to Noosa Heads, the home-spun, down-to-earth authenticity simply permeates the record.

Cullen aims to emulate other successful Australian artists like Paul Kelly, Perry Keyes and Dave Graney, but ultimately falls short. Many of the tracks get stuck on a single trajectory, and Cullen doesn’t allow them to grow organically. He’s got potential but needs some more hard yards to fully deliver.