Taylor Sheridan doesn’t just make TV shows; he creates specific, dusty, high-stakes vibes. You felt it in Yellowstone, you felt it in Tulsa King, and now, with the premiere of Landman, you can practically smell the diesel and crude oil coming off the screen. But while Billy Bob Thornton’s grizzled narration sets the stage, it’s the music that really does the heavy lifting. The Landman episode 1 soundtrack isn't just background noise. It's the pulse of the Permian Basin.
Music in a Sheridan production acts like a character. If you’ve been paying attention to the way he uses Red Dirt country and gritty Americana, you know he’s not looking for Top 40 hits. He’s looking for songs that sound like they were written on a legal pad in the cab of a Ford F-150.
Episode 1, titled "Landman," drops us straight into the chaos of West Texas oil culture. We get introduced to Tommy Norris, a guy who basically navigates the legal and physical minefields of the oil industry. To match that intensity, the soundtrack leans heavily into a mix of classic outlaw country vibes and modern Texas grit.
The Raw Sound of the Permian Basin
The show opens with a bang, and the music follows suit. One of the standout elements of the Landman episode 1 soundtrack is how it avoids the "shiny" version of country music. There’s no glitter here. Honestly, if the song sounds too polished, it doesn't fit the dirt-under-the-fingernails aesthetic of the show.
Take a look at the inclusion of "Money" by The Red Clay Strays. This band has been blowing up lately, and for good reason. Their sound is this swampy, soulful blend that feels both timeless and urgent. When that track hits, it perfectly underscores the high-stakes financial gambling that defines the oil business. In the world of Landman, money is the only thing that matters, but it’s a dirty, dangerous kind of currency.
It’s interesting to note how Sheridan chooses artists who have a genuine connection to the regions they’re singing about. This isn't just about licensing tracks; it's about world-building.
Why "The Landman" Theme Sets the Tone
The opening theme is a crucial part of the Landman episode 1 soundtrack. Composed by Andrew Lockington, who has worked with Sheridan before on Special Ops: Lioness and Mayor of Kingstown, the score is industrial and percussive. It feels mechanical. It mimics the rhythmic thumping of an oil derrick.
Lockington uses a lot of low-frequency sounds. It’s heavy. It’s the kind of music that makes your chest vibrate if you have a decent soundbar. This choice is deliberate. The oil industry is loud, dangerous, and unrelenting. The score reflects that lack of peace. There’s no "quiet" in the oil patch, and the music ensures you never feel too comfortable.
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The Significance of Ryan Bingham
You can’t talk about a Taylor Sheridan soundtrack without mentioning Ryan Bingham. While Bingham is a series regular on Yellowstone, his influence—and often his music—looms large over everything Sheridan touches. In Landman, the musical DNA carries that same DNA of "Modern Outlaw."
Bingham’s music often deals with the struggle of the working man, which is the core of what Landman is trying to explore. It’s not just about the billionaires; it’s about the guys in the pits. The Landman episode 1 soundtrack uses these types of folk-rock and country-rock blends to humanize the scale of the industry. It reminds you that behind every barrel of oil, there’s a guy who hasn’t slept in 24 hours.
Breaking Down the Key Tracks
The premiere episode features a handful of songs that really stick to your ribs. Most people are searching for that one specific track that played during the bar scene or the drive out to the rig.
One of the most talked-about songs is "High & Dry" by Wilderado. It brings a slightly more alternative, indie-rock flavor to the episode, proving that Sheridan isn't strictly tethered to Nashville. It provides a brief moment of melodic relief in an otherwise very "heavy" episode.
Then you have the more traditional stuff.
- The Red Clay Strays - "Money": As mentioned, this is the anthem of the episode. It captures the greed and the hustle.
- Waylon Jennings (Vibe): While not every episode features a 70s outlaw legend, the influence is everywhere. The guitars are twangy but distorted.
- Original Score by Andrew Lockington: This fills the gaps between the licensed tracks, keeping the tension high.
The placement of these songs is surgical. Notice how the music often cuts out entirely during the tense negotiations. Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) does a lot of talking, and when he’s speaking, the music steps back. But as soon as he hops in that truck, the volume cranks up.
The Cultural Impact of the Soundtrack
Why do people care so much about the Landman episode 1 soundtrack? It’s because country music is currently having a massive "rebranding" moment in mainstream culture, and Sheridan is one of the primary architects of that.
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For a long time, TV soundtracks were either generic pop or orchestral sweeps. Sheridan changed the game by treating "Red Dirt" and "Americana" as prestigious genres. Now, being featured on a show like Landman can change an artist's career overnight. Look at what happened to Zach Bryan after his music appeared in Yellowstone.
The music in Landman is meant to feel authentic to West Texas. If you walk into a bar in Midland or Odessa, you aren't hearing the stuff they play on Top 40 radio in Los Angeles. You’re hearing artists like Hayes Carll, Charley Crockett, or Sturgill Simpson. By leaning into this, the Landman episode 1 soundtrack gains instant credibility with the people who actually live that life.
A Different Kind of Texas
People often mistake Texas as one big monolith, but the music in Landman highlights the specific roughness of the West. It’s different from the Austin blues scene or the Houston rap scene. It’s isolated.
The soundtrack reflects that isolation. There’s a loneliness to some of the acoustic tracks used in the quieter moments—like when Tommy is reflecting on his fractured family. It shows that despite the billions of dollars flowing through the pipes, these people are often very much alone.
Deep Tracks and Nuance
If you listen closely to the Landman episode 1 soundtrack, you’ll hear a lot of "dust" in the recordings. These aren't over-produced tracks. They have character. They have flaws.
In the world of professional music supervision, this is called "organic integration." The music shouldn't feel like it was slapped on in post-production. It should feel like it’s coming from the world itself. When a song plays on a truck radio in the show, it has that specific tinny, slightly distorted quality. It’s those small details that make the Landman experience feel real.
The score itself uses a lot of unconventional instruments. You’ll hear things that sound like metal clanging against metal, or the low hum of a generator. Lockington isn't just using a violin section; he's using the sounds of the oil field to create melody.
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Addressing the "Sheridan Formula"
Some critics argue that Taylor Sheridan has a "formula" for his music. They say it’s always "depressed guys with guitars."
While there’s some truth to that, it ignores the nuance. The Landman episode 1 soundtrack is actually more aggressive than Yellowstone. Yellowstone is more melodic and sweeping, reflecting the vast landscapes of Montana. Landman is more rhythmic and jagged, reflecting the industrial nature of Texas oil. It’s a subtle shift, but an important one.
The soundtrack also has to compete with the sound design. In Landman, the sound of the wind, the machinery, and the trucks is very loud. The music has to be "big" enough to cut through that noise without overwhelming the dialogue. It's a delicate balance.
How to Discover More Music Like This
If you finished the first episode and immediately went to Spotify, you aren't alone. The Landman episode 1 soundtrack has already triggered a spike in searches for "West Texas Country" and "Americana Rock."
To really dive into this genre, you should look beyond just the songs listed in the credits. Artists like Colter Wall, Tyler Childers, and Vincent Neil Emerson occupy the same sonic space as the music in Landman. These artists focus on storytelling, grit, and the darker side of the American dream.
Actionable Listening Guide
If you want to replicate the vibe of the Landman episode 1 soundtrack in your own life, here is how you build that playlist:
- Start with the Anchors: Add "Money" by The Red Clay Strays and "High & Dry" by Wilderado. These are your foundational tracks.
- Look for the "Clang": Find tracks that have a percussive, driving beat. You want music that feels like it’s moving forward, even if it’s through the mud.
- Prioritize the Lyrics: This sub-genre of country isn't about trucks and beer in a celebratory way. It’s about the cost of the truck and the reason for the beer. Look for songwriters who tell stories about labor and loss.
- Incorporate the Score: Don’t sleep on Andrew Lockington’s work. Adding a few of the ambient score tracks between the songs can create a more immersive, "cinematic" listening experience.
- Follow the Labels: Keep an eye on labels like New West Records or Rounder Records. They consistently sign the kind of artists that Taylor Sheridan loves to feature.
The music of Landman is ultimately about survival. It’s the sound of people trying to make a living in a place that doesn't particularly want them there. Whether it’s the soaring vocals of a Red Dirt singer or the mechanical hum of the orchestral score, the Landman episode 1 soundtrack delivers exactly what it needs to: a sense of place so strong you can almost taste the grit in your teeth.