Originally from the Turtle Mountains in North Dakota, Leo Rondeau now calls Austin, TX his home. His songs describe interesting characters in both mundane and extraordinary circumstances. This storytelling, enhanced by catchy melodies, earned him a Songwriter of the Year nomination from the Academy of Texas Music for his previous record, “Down at the End of the Bar.”

“Take It and Break It,” is built with the simple approach of good songs and good sounds. Under the seasoned ears of roots rock producer R.S. Field (Billy Joe Shaver, Hayes Carll, Sonny Landreth) Rondeau’s country folk songs take on a cocky persona that struts through the speakers.

Recorded in Austin to two-inch tape with all Austin musicians (except for Nashville guitar ace Carl Miner), the album highlights Field’s approach of allowing the musicians to “play how they play”; this only adds and never detracts from Rondeau’s simple, honest songwriting. The result of this pairing is a record that has an organic warm sound, natural and good on the ears.