Beyoncé - COWBOY CARTER - Album Review 

When I say Mark is the best reviewer in the game, I mean it. Seriously, the way he expresses his thoughts and feelings on albums and songs with genuine constructive criticism in the most thorough, detailed, and respectful way possible is unparalleled. Even if I may disagree with him at times, I still ALWAYS see and understand where he's coming from, and that's what makes a good critic. 😊

Beyoncé’s album is thoughtful and chocked full of history, but she is still just one woman, a black woman at that, and people continually lament about what she hasn’t done when she puts out a project. Here’s some food for thought: Her album requires us to analyze and learn to get the full depth and appreciation or to just listen to the art and miss the significance. She leaves it to us to decode the depth for appreciation. Her songs, lyrics, and this album is intentional. A few tidbits that aren’t mentioned in my other post. . . Can we take a moment to realize that Blackbird was written not just about Civil rights, but in reaction to how those kids from the Little Rock Nine were treated. There were 5 little girls that were part of the Little Rock 9 and Beyoncé added 4 black female country artist to show 5 women being kept out of a segregated country genre music system. Alligator tears could be analogy of how America treats its black people. Just like Requiem America espouses big ideas, but when it needs to be built, saved from their own actions (Trump & white nationalist), it turns to black people to save it and gives us alligator tears but doesn’t change. Think about the celebrity Jewish people who said why aren’t black people coming to march and help us. Think about women’s rights to vote, that left black women behind, think about how Civil rights gave women rights that gave white women better pay and a seat at tables. Because the Civil Rights laws covers women and minorities. And what do they do, side with the people who fought to keep them from getting those rights. Now they watching all their rights stripped away now they looking at us to help them regain everything they gave away. I could go on, but you get the picture.

Mark, I love your work, but I have to correct you on the Kelis point. Beyoncé DID credit Kelis for Renaissance. She actually credited her "as performed by" when she didn't have to because Kelis didn't write the song. Kelis' issue was that Beyoncè didn't call her personally to get her blessing(and Kelis actually thought it was a different song she had writing credits on and it wasn't).

Your reviews inspire me to be a better man

your insight is crazy good.

I'm ready for Beyonce's next genre experimentation album when she takes on Post-Grunge

1. This album is structured along the history of country music in 3 chapters separated by monologues: Past, Present, and then Future. This is why we'll hear the old tropes of how they used to do country music, and then the current country sound (like the radio hits), and then at last how she envisions country music. So I think they don't clash or feels too sprawling, but more follow a chronological order. 2. I personally think in the world where every celebrity is trying to be relatable, Beyonce is actually a rarity being a godlike superstar. Music-wise, She strives for perfection as she polishes her sound and the details in many years. This to me makes her special and define who she is as an overall brand that inspires many people.

This is a great review, it made me think about things I hadn't considered too deeply. Personally, I really loved this album, it's incredibly well curated and thoughfully put together, as a work of art. It's very cinematic on its structure (reminds me of some of Kendrik's work in that sense). And the vocal performance is outstanding. Although I admit I also would have wanted her to add a few more personal lyrics in a few more songs, because diaristic or authobiographical songwriting seems to be such a huge part of country music culture/tradition. I know her brand is aspirarional, perfectionistic and goddess-like, not really relatable... But this was a great opportunity to share a few private stories, of course stories she would wanna share. I guess that was wistful thinking on my part. My only real criticism is that I don't understand why she didn't featured more prominently some of the black singers she contacted, and just gave them backup vocals. I also admit her changing Jolene's arrangement is great, but it's funny she changed the essence of the song/the core "pleading/vulnerable" sentiment it expresses and isntead chose to interpret it as a jealous/threatening song (specially when she already portrays a woman scorned in other tracks). Ironically, a lot of my favorite tracks on this album are the experimental ones and some that are (in my opinion, sonically not country at all). But I'm not upset about that, it's just amusing to me. And do understand she was making a point about music genres being unnecessarily restrictive for the artist.

While I personally thought renaissance (and lemonade) was better song for song and more consistent sonically, Cowboy Carter is a great eclectic sprawling mess in the best way. It may not be ALL country, and might be somewhat bloated, but I like that she just threw everything at the wall and went with it. Her influences (Prince, MJ, Tina, etc) would be proud. Side note: I know Beyonce comes across as incredibly unapproachable especially in a time where we see celebs every move online/in social media, and every detail into their personal lives. But honestly? I think vulnerability, and, furthermore, trying to be relatable is overrated. We already have enough of that from many artists already. Sometimes I just want to hear an artist do what they do best, and not give a fuck about trying to please anyone. She does that.

If she did a traditional country album, I'd be bored as hell. Everything messy about the album is also messy about America and the music biz.

Love your perspective!

Great review as usual Mark!

Anthony Fantano and you are my two favorite music critics/music experts on RU-vid!!

As a Beyhive member I loved this review! Super insightful !

Great review. While there are points that do feel weighed down by it being A Beyoncé Album® and all the discourse that brings - a weight that I didn't really feel with RENAISSANCE, which I adored - there's so much here in the songs that I absolutely love that I'd still call it a very good to great record. Favorite tracks are "YA YA," "AMERICAN REQUIIEM," "II MOST WANTED," "16 CARRIAGES" and "ALLIIGATOR TEARS."

Hi, Spectrum Pulse!! I haven't seen one of your videos in 3 years!! You're one of my favorite music critic/music expert!!

The albums great. I don’t bother wondering if the production is too clean because it’s fine

This is not hate. Beyoncé is just a human being with a lot of talent. Here’s the thing. Beyoncé wasn’t born into the connections that she now has. There are plenty of people who are born into that life that never reach these depths or heights. Look at Paris Hilton’s career. Look at Tori Spelling. Miley Cyrus is a power house and she received breaks due to those connections early in life. But no one discounts her tallent or her accomplishments . However, when Beyoncé does something we have to point out her earned privileges. I say earned, because that label and JayZ wouldn’t have been with Beyoncé if she didn’t have that tallent and proven herself. Remember the label was against Beyoncé doing single ladies in black & white. Beyoncé has an instinct for her art and has a track record that has stopped others from dictating what she can do now. But it wasn’t always that way. JayZ could have never been able to lift Jennifer Lopez to these heights musically, because Jennifer didn’t have this type of talent and hard work. But Jennifer Lopez is person who used , her amorous connections, other people’s vocals and stole their projects to get where she got. It’s the constant discounting of Beyoncé’s grit and talent, that made Jennifer think that she could just throw money at a project and do a world tour, movie, and album. I’ve heard this album. I hadn’t heard other Beyoncé albums and I only recently heard some of her songs (during and after Covid). A month or two ago, I watched a RU-vid reaction on Lemonade. But here’s what I got from listening to this album: Beyoncé uses her albums to tell a story. It’s like watching a movie. You wouldn’t want to come in 1/4 of the way through, leave and then come back to watch the end or have people to tell you the best part and then go in just to watch that part of the movie. It’s weird, because I didn’t realize that until I watched someone react to her entire Lemonade album recently. Having said all that, let me give you an overview of the movie that is Cowboy Carter: This whole album is in response to how she was treated at CMA. American Requiem is telling them about themselves. She researched and it took over 5 years for her to develop this album. The album is full of history and reclaiming music that black people/ slaves started, but were kicked out of once it became popular. Blackbird was written by Paul McCartny to give black women/girls hope during the Civil Rights movement . He saw how they were being treated. That’s why all the singers on the song are black women. The others are four black female country singers. Let’s just point out that Country radio has an issue with playing black artists so Beyoncé told everyone about her new venture during the Super Bowl then dropped two country songs. The Bey Hive activated and most country stations played her music. But to top it off, her album is presented as it’s own radio station with country legends presenting her music. This Album was meant to be Act I. This was Beyoncé’s response to how she was treated at the CMA. The requiem funeral procession was trying to let us know that Country Music was rooted and started by blacks. If you look into the history, it started by people putting on black face for minstrel music making fun of the slaves with their banjos. Then people who are credited with starting country, came to black street artists to learn their craft. Once it became big, black people were pushed aside and they started gate keeping the genre. Same thing happened with rock & roll, jazz, blues, and many of the genres that are considered to have been started in America. Thus, Beyoncé is reclaiming all of the music that we’ve been kicked out of that we helped create. It’s why this album delves into all those genres and ends with her buckin breaking down walls and asking if we can hear her now. Then she says that we are the ones who have to clean ourselves of our father’s sins to end the funeral procession .

Cowboy Carter # 1 Everywhere!!!! 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

Good album review.

You hit it right on the head: Genre is a marketing/sales gimmick by the music industry labels!! I believe in Genreless music, because that's a reality!!

I was looking forward to this review and it didn’t disappoint! I’m a huge Beyoncé fan, and while I am a gigantic fan of Renaissance compared to Mark, I agree with your takes on a lot of her music. This album feels closest to Lemonade to me in how it plays with style and genre, but I felt Lemonade was much more cohesive in its overall storytelling and vision. CC has gems throughout the album and some inspired cover choices, but it feels like it starts off on one message of her roots and the concept of genre, then goes into old re-tread Becky era territory from Lemonade for some reason, then into history of country and Americana into the present scene - and while these are all interesting subjects she does seem to have care for, it feels like too many concepts thrown into one. I wish she stuck to one or two to really dig into, I think it would have helped this album feel like a satisfying total listening experience. Also love ya Posty, but I don’t get his feature here at all.

Ok I’m gonna be honest I’m too tired to watch this right now but holy Christ this is long my man has some THOUGHTS.

Album had quite a lot of filler and was a bit all over the place, but I kind of like the maximalist Beyonce where she pulls a lot of people's ideas together into one big fucking album. Had fun with it, although it does drag in the second half.

This album I wish helped solidly genre labels “pop” “country” “rap” “rock” are outdated in an era of many entertainers doing a bit of everything.

Excellent balanced analysis

This is why Mark is genuinely my favorite reviewer on the internet, the man is never afraid to get deep into the weeds to support what other people might see as a hot take. Clearly the Beyhive will be upset because this isn't a 10/10 review, but the joke's on them bc a well thought out & well articulated opinion is a thousand times more meaningful than a bunch of stans spamming "queen bey aoty" all over the internet. When it comes to incredible black women making incredible country music, I'm personally looking forward to Kaia Kater's upcoming album this May. I'd like to hope that the big public response to Cowboy Carter might lead to a boost for all black country artists currently making music, but I'm not holding my breath. 😕

You gonna review Adrianne Lenker?

Thank you for your insightful commentary as always, Mark. Your nuanced analysis is always much-appreciated.

Please review Sierra Ferrells new LP i'm dying to know your thoughts

You say she never credited Kelis which is not true. She may not have asked Kelis but she DEFINITELY credited her. I think Kelis may have jumped the gun on criticizing Beyoncé without actually hearing the project. Personally, I think Cowboy Carter surpassed Lemonade as far as lyricism and vocals.

I hope you review Tyla's Debut album it's interesting

16:50 GURL................. I-I literally don't even know what to say about that.

Yeah this album is quite bloated and suffers from the fact that Beyoncé doesn't commit to the Country genre all the way. What I will correct you on, however, is that much of Country and Blues were labeled as such was not just to seperate "black" and "white" music. But also possibly to erase the Latin American roots of those genres. In the case of Country, it was very much based on what people in Texas heard Mexican street musicians play (e.g. Corrido and Ranchera music) in that area. Edit: I forgot to mention that cowboys/cowgirls got their whole style from vaqueros/vaqueras (who are also Mexican)

Oh wow, this is the longest since big steppers?

I'm reading the changed lyrics to the "Jolene" cover and oof it ain't looking good. Maybe its me being sick and tired of this shit but these lyrics are, like you said, tacky. I'm sick and tired of women going after other women in popular music (the first song that came to my head was C'mon Let Me Drive by Skylar Grey- thanks DoubleAgent). They always end up sounding insecure and regressively mysoginistic. It's like you gave a Nicki Minaj song twang. I don't think Imma be listening to this- it lost me in the lyrics cuz despite being a country fan, I was never into this brand of it. I never got into Alan Jackson's conservative leaning brand. It's also because my brand of country leans against that brand- Adeem The Artist, Yola's "Stand For Myself" and that new Hurray For The Riff Raff record (that might be my album of the year), etc. I also don't want to go through almost an hour and 20 minutes to find those great moments if I have to get through what I just wrote about.

I agree; major problem is this album sounds too polished, "too good to be true." If this album had been a live recording of songs, I think it would've landed better.

#1 Before even recorded. Lol😂. Front seat at awards shows bought n paid for. Best PR spin team 2b$ can buy. Id like to see more of the other 200k artists on Spotify that don't have an agent and 2 billion $s.

Yaws first

He’s always giving negative comments when it comes to Beyoncé this was a brilliant album

cowboy carter is so beyond brilliant so many people barely know how to digest it

great review, this whole album feels just kinda sad in context cause beyoncé is just going to drop country for the next album and she might never return to it. i really loved the blackbird cover, it’s so pretty, and 2 most wanted came off a lot more gay than i think either person on that song realized, but this album is wayyyyyyyyyyyy too long, i was only able to get 2/3 of the way through it before giving up.

I sampled a sample of a sample then made a album

You opened your video by mentioning how you will probably lose a lot of fans after this video. lmao. Nobody is checking for you and nobody knows who you are. People click on your videos because of the artist that you are critiquing, not because YOU are the one critiquing them. You need a large dose of humility tbh.

I enjoyed the album overall, flawed but not bad, I take it over Rennaissance

disappointingly bad

Bey REALLY got under wight folks' skin with this album😂😅

I think she cares… about being the best and unique. It didn’t feel passionate, it felt like she threw a bunch of money to make something to stay on top. The blackbird rendition felt like karaoke. Nothing interesting about it. Her Jolene lyrics were cringe.. no one wants JayZ. It just felt forced and trite.

Dude, you look like a middle aged version of the Lawnmower Man. I feel like if I continue to watch your videos, the molecules within my body will telekinetically separate. 😂

The most overrated album of the year. It's poorly mixed. The music is thin and poorly performed. Some good moments, but it's way too long and way too many mediocre songs.

I guess, is too much to ask to keep your politics and moral grandstanding away from the music reviews...

It's a cash grab album. It trash. Go buy the original artist work that she sampled. Way better.