California native, Oliver Tree, released his sophomore album Cowboy Tears last Friday, February 18. The COVID-19 pandemic was in its early stages at the time of Tree’s self declared retirement after releasing his debut album Ugly is Beautiful. The unprecedented quarantine that accompanied the pandemic prompted him to write more music in the empty hours of a pandemic. Tree initially did not intend on writing a second album, but after spending six months of the pandemic at his grandparents’ ranch in Northern California, he was so satisfied with what he wrote that an album only seemed fitting.
Cowboy Tears is an emo-country album with an aesthetic that fits the sound. The album cover depicts Oliver Tree airborne on a mechanical bull four wheeler in the middle of desert plateaus being shot at by cowboys. Tree even changed his aesthetic from his iconic flared jeans, wind breaker, razor scooter, and bowl cut to a bleach blonde bowl cut mullet, two toned blue fringe jacket, and a blue cowboy hat and cowboy boots to match.
Cowboy Tears takes a turn from Tree’s previous album Ugly is Beautiful in terms of sound and theme. Cowboy Tears combines country twang with emo lyricism and bridges, arena rock, and pop/alternative melodies that stick themselves in your head. The album exudes eclecticism. Each track places emphasis on a particular genre element while seamlessly still combining all target genres. Overall, Cowboy Tears addresses the importance of being in touch with your emotions and allowing oneself to feel, to cry. The message is largely directed towards Tree’s fellow male listeners, head on tackling the idea that men do not have to be strong and even tough guys are allowed to cry. “[Tough guys] should let our emotions out through tears instead of letting it build up and get out through anger and aggression,” said Tree in an interview with Alternative Press in regards to the new album.
Inspired by Pink Floyd, each track in Cowboy Tears touches on a more specific theme that relates back to the main message – it’s okay to cry, it’s necessary. The opening track “Cowboys Don’t Cry” touches on breakups, missing what you had, acceptance, and being happy alone. “Get Well Soon” focuses on the idea of trying to fix someone that’s broken, but not being able to, and understanding that you can’t fix others – you can only try to fix yourself. “Freaks and Geeks” is a nod to Ugly is Beautiful, an album centered around embracing being an outcast and loving who you are. “Freaks and Geeks” embraces the idea of loving yourself and all your flaws and not caring what other people think. “Doormat” is a realization about being treated poorly and suddenly being aware of the fact that you deserve more than what you’d been receiving. “Cigarettes”, my personal favorite track, focuses on cigarette addiction, the hold it can have over you, and knowing you are literally killing yourself but cannot stop. “California” is a nod to the California native’s home state and no matter how far he may travel, he wants to be buried where he lived: California. “Playing With Fire” touches on taking risks and walking on the edge of life and death with instrumentation reminiscent of the 2011 hit “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye. The concluding track and title track “Cowboy Tears” aims to let people who are feeling suicidal to know that they are not alone, and that it’s okay to cry and get help. In an interview with Apple Music, Oliver Tree said, “If I can save one person’s life with this song, it will be a huge success for me.”
On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate Cowboy Tears an 8.5 out of 10. The album spans multiple genres and touches on multiple themes that evoke the most intimate emotions. With deep cutting lyrics and dance inducing instrumentation, the melodies embedded themselves in my head. I have listened to Cowboy Tears over 10 times since its release last Friday. The album is emotionally empowering yet simultaneously, an anthem to cry to. Cowboy Tears is a perfect example of the creative brilliance that blossomed during quarantine of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cowboy Tears will be Oliver Tree’s final album because according to him, he will enter another self proclaimed retirement from the music industry to focus on film and screenplay writing. Oliver Tree will be embarking on his Cowboy Tears and farewell tour beginning February 25. Cowboy Tears can be found on Apple Music, Spotify, and wherever music is streamed.