Oliver Tree - Cowboy Tears [Yellow]

Oliver Tree saddles up for heartbreak on Cowboy Tears, his 2022 second album, pressed here on yellow vinyl.

The California singer and producer made his name as an internet provocateur, all bowl cut, oversized jackets and absurdist music videos that blurred the line between pop star and performance art. Behind the gags, though, sat a sharp ear for melody, and Cowboy Tears leans into that side of him, wrapping bruised feelings in rock-tinged pop with a Western-movie wink.

Opener "Cowboys Don't Cry" sets the tone with a big, bittersweet chorus, "Swing & a Miss" captures the sting of romantic misfires, and "Freaks & Geeks" brings back the playful, outsider energy his fans love. The title track "Cowboy Tears" pulls the threads together with a wistful, wide-open feel.

The production mixes crunchy guitars, glossy synths and catchy, chant-ready hooks, and Tree's voice swings easily between deadpan and heartfelt. Under the cowboy hat, the songs are surprisingly vulnerable, and the album rarely lets the joke overshadow the feeling.

For fans who came for the memes and stayed for the songs, this is Oliver Tree at his most emotionally direct, and the bright yellow pressing suits the album's sunset-cowboy styling. It is a fun, surprisingly tender one to spin.