RIYL: Neko Case, Big Thief, Lucinda Williams, Pavement, Kurt Vile, Orville Peck Nora Kelly Band's first full-length album Rodeo Clown roams the range of country-inflected styles-slow burners to foot stompers-but a theme ties it together. The painted smile of the clown, says band leader Kelly, is something she can relate to in some ways she likes-and others she is working to overcome. "We all know that a clown's role is to act goofy and make their audience laugh, but underneath we have no idea how they are really feeling. I can relate," shares Kelly. "I can be too much of a people pleaser, too worried about putting others at ease even when I'm not smiling inside. It's something I'm working hard to move past, and a lot of the songs on this album reference, in some way, that journey I'm on to break those habits and stand up for myself."