Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé Album Review
Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé’s newest country-inspired album, is her latest genre-bending and culturally and sonically rich album. What I truly commend about Beyoncé is that she merges older nostalgic artists and sounds with new-age techniques. In this album, Beyoncé takes inspiration from older artists while ushering in new artists such as Shaboozey, Brittany Spencer, and even the more esteemed artists such as Miley and Post Malone.
The album itself is very cohesive, socially and culturally aware, and thematic in its entirety. We get cultural beacons and renovations such as her rendition of Blackbiird (The Beatles). We get interludes by country legends such as Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Linda Martell, and even an interlude featuring Chuck Berry’s Oh Louisiana. This album like RENAISSANCE is cohesive and segues through cleanly. We can hear this in transitions from YA YA to OH LOUISANNA to DESERT EAGLE to RIIVERDANCE to II HANDS II HEAVEN. The production of this album is squeaky clean and we can hear it in these amazingly smooth segues.
We have large vocal variations in this album from the breathy MY ROSE, operative falsetto vocals in DAUGHTER, aggressive rap vocals in SPAGHETII, and harmonizations in II MOST WANTED.
Beyoncé puts her twist on JOLENE warning that JOLENE better not mess with her man. Dolly Parton has publicly stated that she wanted Beyoncé to cover Jolene. In this version, we get a fiery and protective Beyoncé that states:
“I’m still a Creole banjee bitch from Louisianne (don’t try me)”
Dolly reacted on social media:
“Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it! Love, Dolly P.”
With the help of vocalizations Martell and Nelson, we get this message that Beyoncé is unapologetically genre-bending. Martell states:
“Genres are a funny little concept. Yes, they are. In theory, they have a simple definition that’s easy to understand, but in practice, some may feel confined"
SMOKE HOUR II marks the transition of the album. Nelson states:
“If there is one thing you can take away from my set today, let it be this: sometimes you don’t know what you like until someone you trusts turns you on to some real good shit. And that ladies and gentlemen is why I am here”
I feel this is Willie Nelson's stand with Beyoncé for critics to be open-minded to Beyoncé entering the country realm.
II MOST WANTED featuring Miley Cyrus is the vocal powerhouse duo that I’ve always dreamed of. It’s a beautiful soulful song that highlights both of these talented women’s artistry. LEVII’S JEANS with Post Malone reminds me of Beyoncé’s flirty songs such as Blow and VIRGOS GROOVE.
YA YA samples Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots are Made for Walking and renditions of Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys. YA YA is her reclamation of American patriotism
The album is a reclamation of her family history and identity. The name Beyoncé is her mother Tina Knowles's maiden name. The name is originally Beyince derived from Creole origins yet it was spelled name on the birth certificate as Beyoncé. Beyoncé is reclaiming the name within this album and is a reclamation of her family history. That’s why throughout the album we see two I’s as well as marking part two of Beyonce’s Renaissance.
RIIVERDANCE is a fun upbeat blend of houselike lyrics and country blue grass banjo background. SWEET HONEY BUCKIN’ is another interesting and dynamic blend of genres such as house dance beats with country. It is the PURE HONEY of this album with its dynamic switch-up.
Overall the album is another sonically rich hit. Beyoncé has successfully outdone herself again and is successfully continuing to solidify her legacy among the greats.
