2025 Grammy's Review: "Cowboy Carter" - Beyoncé

 

"Cowboy Carter" - Beyoncé

(Parkwood/Columbia Records)

1) American Requiem

The layered choir really works on this track. She's making a statement, regarding to what classifies as country among other things; "Salty tears beyond my gaze....Used to say, I spoke too country". 

2) Blackbiird (w/ Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell & Tiera Kennedy)

Justice is done for this Beatles cover.

3) 16 Carriages

There's a nice guitar intro. This track details her work to get to this point; "At fifteen, the innocence was gone astray".

4) Protector (w/ Rumi Carter)

This track acts as a lullaby on how she'll always be there for her kids; "Even though I know someday you're gonna shine on your own, I will be your projector".

5) My Rose

6) Smoke Hour Willie Nelson (w/ Willie Nelson)

7) Texas Hold 'Em

There's a nice catchy groove; "There's a heat wave coming at us, too hot to think straight, too cold to panic". 

8) Bodyguard

This track has a half-time feel to it. The writing is really clever; "turn around and John Wayne that ass".

9) Dolly P (w/ Dolly Parton)

10) Jolene

The vocals and instrumentals are lovely, but this interpretation of 'Jolene' doesn't quite work for me.

11) Daughter

This all flows quite well; "Your arrogance disturbed my solitude....I am colder than Titanic water".

12) Spaghetti  (w/ Linda Martell & Shaboozey)

This delves into genre bending.

13) Alligator Tears

I love the vibe.

14) Smoke Hour II (w/ Willie Nelson)

15) Just for Fun (w/ Willie Jones)

This track drags a bit.

16) II Most Wanted  (w/ Miley Cyrus)

The harmonies are beautiful; "We're getting high til we 't realize time is passing by". 

17) Levii's Jeans (w/ Post Malone)

This track is very playful throughout; "You're my renaissance". This really grooves.

18) Flamenco

This is a bit of a vocal showcase.

19) The Linda Martell (w/ Linda Martell)

20) Ya Ya

There might be a "Boots are made for walking' sample in this intro. I can picture this being a showstopper in concert.

21) Oh Louisiana

22) Desert Eagle

23) Riiverdance

The guitar is very lively on this track.

24) II Hands II Heaven 

25) Tyant (w/ Dolly Parton)

There's a sort of fusion vibe on this track that really works.

26) Sweet Honey Buckiin (w/ Shaboozey)

This track has its moments, but the feature aspect of it isn't the strongest.

27) Amen

This comes full circle, circling back to American Requiem. 

This second act for Beyoncé's project really works and has a lot of variety in it. Its not simply a "country" album, but her own interpretation, going back to the roots of the genre. Who knows what she'll do next, but here's hoping her next project is rock related. (87.3)

87.9 " Hit Me Hard & Soft " Billie Eilish 

87.3 "Cowboy Carter" Beyoncé

85.9 "Short n' Sweet" Sabrina Carpenter 

69.6 "Djesse Vol 4" Jacob Collier

69.3 "New Blue Sun" Andre 3000

2025 Grammys Review: "New Blue Sun" - Andre 3000

 

"New Blue Sun" - Andre 3000

(Epic Records)

1) "I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a 'Rap' Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time"

A very ambient sound that paints an outdoor landscape.

2) "The Slang Word P(*)ssy Rolls Off the Tongue with Far Better Ease Than the Proper Word Vagina. Do You Agree?"

An exhausting track, that's like unpleasant ASMR at times.

3) "That Night in Hawaii When I Turned into a Panther and Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn't Control ... Sh¥t Was Wild" A subtle and soft intro. 4) "BuyPoloDisorder's Daughter Wears a 3000® Shirt Embroidered" This track is unique sounding with an eerie vibe that's like a sci-fi film.

5) "Ninety Three 'Til Infinity and Beyoncé" There's not a lot there that's original from the prior tracks. 6) "Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C. / Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy"

There's a lot happening in the background but it gets a bit repetitive.

7) "Ants to You, Gods to Who?" A tiring track that sounds more like the same. 8) "Dreams Once Buried Beneath the Dungeon Floor Slowly Sprout into Undying Gardens"

There's no real defining moment on this closing track.

I get the experiment and the general nature of what Andre 3000 is trying to do, but this album leaves a lot to be desired. It gets quite repetitive and there are just no real stand out moments. (69.3)

87.9 " Hit Me Hard & Soft " Billie Eilish 

85.9 "Short n' Sweet" Sabrina Carpenter 

69.6 "Djesse Vol 4" Jacob Collier

69.3 "New Blue Sun" Andre 3000

2025 Grammy's Review: "Hit Me Hard &" Soft" - Billie Eilish

 

"Hit Me Hard & Soft" - Billie Eilish

(All rights to Darkroom/Interscope Records)

1) Skinny

A tranquil opening about finding oneself (relating to love); "and the internet is hungry for the meanest kind of funny".

2) Lunch

An upbeat, fun and catchy track. We find Billie being playful with her writing; "she's the headlights I'm the deer".

3) Chihiro

There is a nice beat, but I would like a bit more variance.

4) Birds Of A Feather

With a nice moving beat, this is about the early stages of a flourishing relationship; "but if it's forever, it's even better".

5) Wildflower

With an acoustic intro, the lyrics and vocals really flow together.

6) The Greatest 

The vocals are powerful and the instrumentals keep it from dragging. There is a strong closing.

7) L'Amour De Ma Vie

This has a different vibe, but it's a bit 1-note backing wise before there's a switch-up. I wish the track felt more like the back half.

8) The Diner

This has a nice flow, with a French pop kind of vibe.

9) Bittersuite

With an electronic feel this has another change up halfway in; "have you underneath all of my beliefs".

10) Blue

This cleverly threads together the album; " I try to live in black and white but I'm so blue". She's rather lyrically savage on this closing track.

This is a very strong album. As I mentioned on "Blue", ultimately each track has a cohesive feel to it, flowing together in the end. I can't wait to see what she does next. (87.9)

87.9 " Hit Me Hard & Soft " Billie Eilish 

85.9 "Short n' Sweet" Sabrina Carpenter 

69.6 "Djesse Vol 4" Jacob Collier