“COWBOY CARTER” - Beyoncé Album Review

The pop girls are in their country era this year, which is definitely making fans everywhere crave a rodeo and a hoedown.

Beyoncé has released “COWBOY CARTER,” her country-music-inspired album that serves as the second installment of her trilogy project that began with the release of “RENAISSANCE” in 2022, and it is certainly impressing people.

Spring 2024 is a huge quarter for the music industry, with big hitters throughout all genres releasing new music over the first few months of this year. Beyoncé is just one amid many artists delivering new music to their fans.

“COWBOY CARTER” is a 27-track album with a runtime of an hour and 18 minutes, filled with cameos, covers and features throughout.

It is clear that the superstar was inspired by western American films and ideals for this album, though via her own words, “This ain’t a country album. This is a Beyoncé album.”

And a Beyoncé album it is. She completely dismantled the idea of genre with this album, combining different sounds and inspirations to create a unique take on modern music, while still sticking to her own trademarked sound.

“COWBOY CARTER” opens with “AMERIICAN REQUIEM,” a five-minute track that introduces the album. Throughout the album, Beyoncé makes the stylistic choice of replacing every letter “I” with the Roman numeral II, referencing the trilogy project.

Following the introduction track is “BLACKBIIRD,” the first cover heard out of this album. Beyoncé samples and covers The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” making it her own along the way.

The covers and features on this album truly show fans where the singer was gathering inspiration from, and what the general idea and theme of the release is.

This album includes stars like Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Willie Nelson, Post Malone and even Beyoncé’s own daughter, Rumi Carter.

“16 CARRIAGES” and “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” were the released singles from this album, and though “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” was slightly ruined by TikTok, both are impressive songs that served well as singles.

“JOLENE” is track 10 of “COWBOY CARTER,” covering Parton’s original. Beyoncé sings about knowing her worth and tries to convey that her relationship with her husband Jay-Z is too strong to be broken by any other woman.

“SPAGHETTII” features Linda Martell introducing listeners to a switch-up in the genre of the album. It brings Beyoncé’s rap elements into “COWBOY CARTER,” but definitely came out of the blue and felt a bit out of line upon first listen.

One of the songs that stands out the most is “II MOST WANTED,” which features Cyrus. It is a gorgeous love song that describes being someone’s number-one “shotgun rider,” despite being young or possibly moving too fast.

Beyoncé’s vocals blend perfectly with Cyrus’, and this melody was an amazing route to go on for a duet between the two.

“LEVII’S JEANS” is a more sensual track on “COWBOY CARTER” that features Post Malone. Malone grew up in Texas much like Beyoncé, which might explain one reason behind his feature. Either way, he was a perfect choice for this song.

The album ends with “AMEN,” a track that brings “COWBOY CARTER” full circle by alluding to “AMERIICAN REQUIEM.”

Overall, there is nothing featured in “COWBOY CARTER” for fans to be disappointed by. Bey made an album that will definitely become an icon in the industry and proved that changing genres is more than worth it.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewer’s favorite songs: “II MOST WANTED,” “LEVII’S JEANS”

Reviewer’s least favorite songs: “RIIVERDANCE,” “SPAGHETTII”

Sarah Gavlak is a second-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, please email sng5393@psu.edu.