Artist: Erasure Album: Cowboy

Year: 1997
Duration: 0:0-1

Saddle Up and Let's Talk About Erasure's Cowboy Album

Erasure, the iconic English synth-pop duo, has been creating smash hits for more than three decades now. With over 20 albums to their name, fans have come to expect a lot from them, including the 1997 album Cowboy. The album's country twang is decidedly different from their previous releases and deserves a closer look. In this blog post, we'll explore the history of Erasure, the music genre of Cowboy, the best songs of the album, and the most innovative parts of Cowboy before delivering the ultimate verdict; is it worth listening to or not?

Erasure, the duo of Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, formed in 1985. They burst onto the music scene with hits like “Sometimes,” “A Little Respect,” and “Oh L’amour.” Cowboy, their ninth studio album, was released in 1997, and was the first album they produced without assistance. Before we delve into the album, it's vital to emphasize that this album is a far cry from Erasure’s typical electropop sound. However, Cowboy was an opportunity for them to experiment with their sound and take on something different.

The genre of the Cowboy album is country pop. As fans expected, Erasure's musical direction changed completely on this album. Cowboy was a significant departure from their 1995 album Erasure, with its techno-pop sound. Although the album has distinct country elements, the synthesizers remain central, and the band fuses this genre with other familiar sounds they've used over the years. The upbeat dance anthems made them worldwide club favorites, but Cowboy was hardly a dance-floor favorite. The album serves up melancholy country ballads, adult contemporary-style tracks, a couple of slow ballads, and, of course, a couple of pop songs.

The album's standout tracks are In My Arms, Don't Say Your Love is Killing Me, and the cover of Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill. “Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me” charted on both the U.K. singles chart and the U.S. dance chart. In My Arms remains one of the band's most played songs. The chorus is incredibly catchy, with a great melody, and the verses are poignant. Overall, it highlights the band's willingness to experiment with their sound, and they successfully propel their music in a completely different direction.

Probably the most innovative part of Cowboy is how it presents vulnerability and sadness. A prime example of this is the opening track, Rain, which features a thoughtful, introspective opening verse in which Bell laments about the world's misfortunes. Additionally, Cowboy features tracks addressing questions about masculinity, like Boy and Love Affair, which make it the band's most personal album to date.

Critically, Cowboy has seen mixed reviews, with some proclaiming it as their finest work ever and others saying it was too personal and a misstep. A criticism that stands out is from Rolling Stone magazine, which described it as “ultrapolished and unmistakably middle of the road. However, it's worth taking into consideration that the album's shift in sound was always going to be divisive to some fans.

In conclusion, Erasure's Cowboy album is worth the listen but perhaps with some context. The album didn't hit as hard or have the nostalgic power the group's previous albums have had, but it reflects the duo's willingness to expand their sound and create something new. The country genre isn't something that people would typically consider when thinking about Erasure, which might cause some long-time fans to recoil, but the album's standout tracks remain some of the duo's strongest in their long prolific career. Cowboy might not be the definitive statement of Erasure's musical legacy, but it remains one of their most innovative albums. For fans, it's worth a listen to see their favorite band move in an unexpected direction and expand their craft outside of synth-pop, while also highlighting their strongest elements of vulnerability and heart.