Album Review: "The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales" - Shaboozey
- Jazz Williams
- 10 minutes ago
- 3 min read
After winning Best Country Duo/Group Performance at this year's Grammys, Shaboozey returns with his highly anticipated fourth studio album.
The Outlaw Cherie Lee
Til Sunday
High Noon
Hell Is Hot
Sweet Revenge
If I Was An Outlaw
Cowgirl
Burn It Down
Death of Jeremiah Walker
Drunk
Ugly & All
Bullets & Blades
Don't Count Down
Lone Survivor
Bounty On My Head
Born To Die
Kissed By An Angel
The Worst of Them All
Coyotes Point
The Epilogue
Known professionally as Shaboozey, but born and raised as Collins Obinna Chibueze in Woodbridge, Virginia. His professional name originated from his high school football coach mispronouncing his last name. He is Igbo Nigerian and Chibueze means "God is king". Having developed a passion for music as a teenger, he decided to take it seriously and release his first single in 2014. A decade later, he became well known for tying the record for the longest number one song in Billboard Hot 100 history with A Bar Song (Tipsy). He collabed with Beyonce on two of her country songs and released an acclaimed album. Now, I'm going to dive in and see where he takes his country music next...
It is a concept album that tells the story of Cherie Lee, a woman seeking to avenge her father’s death. Along the way, she ends up falling in love with one of the outlaws. In the end, she chooses revenge over romance… The album sets the stage with an interlude, The Outlaw Cherie Lee, narrated by actor Jamie Foxx who makes two appearances on this album. There are several interludes spread throughout. Some of them like The Worst of Them All are instrumental whereas others like Death of Jeremiah Walker and Don’t Count Down feature actors Teyana Taylor and Sam Elliot, respectively. Notable songs include the rock-tinged Sweet Revenge, heartfelt pop country Bullets & Blades collab with Kehlani, and infectious singles Cowgirl and Born To Die. Cherie Lee’s story ends with The Epilogue sung by fellow country singer Orville Peck.
The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales is a country and hip hop album infused with subgenres like Americana, folk, R&B, and rock. I love the concept and execution. The cinematic storytelling and genre bending showcased how much he has grown as an artist. The interludes added depth without feeling too long or misplaced. The same can be said for his choice of collaborations. This is one of those albums you almost have to listen to from start to finish because the songs don’t necessarily stand out on their own. Each one is a chapter of a book. If you listen out of order, you will miss the bigger picture. It made me really appreciate his creativity and musicality. It’s a well made project from start to finish and a step in the right direction for his career. My favorites are High Noon, Sweet Revenge, and Coyotes Point.
Here’s how I became a fan… I’m a Beyonce fan, so naturally, I listen to everything she puts out. He was featured on two different songs on Cowboy Carter and that's how I was first exposed to him. Needless to say, I was impressed and obsessively listened to Bar Song for the remainder of that year. Shaboozey’s the first country star I ever gave a real chance and I haven’t been disappointed so far. By the way, High Noon is the official song of the upcoming college football season, so I hope that becomes another major hit for him. Outside of that, I’m just excited to see a black artist doing well especially in a white dominated field. I will always support that!
Written By Jazz
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