Orville Peck released his latest album—a collection of duets titled Stampede—on August 2. The album contains collaborators like Willie Nelson, Elton John, Margo Price, and so many more. Some tracks are brand new, like “Death Valley High” with Beck, while others are covers done with the original artist, such as “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)” and “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other.”
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Stampede is a departure from Peck’s earlier work at the same time that it fits well alongside Bronco and Pony. While Peck is working with other artists on this album, he keeps his signature shoegaze-honky-tonk atmosphere throughout. The aesthetic is solid even as he sings with Elton John or Beck, which is a tough aspect to get right. However, Peck doesn’t let himself be overshadowed while still giving his collaborators their time to shine.
That solid aesthetic comes down to Peck’s unique vocal style. Even as he’s singing “Death Valley High” with Beck—which has more of an overall Beck-ish ambiance—his distinct voice doesn’t get lost among the horns and snappy drums. The song stays grounded in Peck’s aesthetic world.
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With Stampede, Orville Peck Creates a Stellar Collaborative Album of Diverse Talent
Orville Peck truly called up a diverse mix of artists from across genres for this collaborative album. While the majority is country, like Nelson, Price, TJ Osborne, and Mickey Guyton, he also worked with Teddy Swims, Noah Cyrus, Beck, Kylie Minogue, and Diplo. There’s pop with Minogue and Cyrus, Americana with Molly Tuttle, a jazzy, soulful sound from Teddy Swims, and a distinct alternative flavor with Beck.
Peck also represents queer and POC voices both in country and just music in general. He sings with TJ Osborne and Fancy Hagood on Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy,” Allison Russell on “Chemical Sunset,” Debbii Dawson on “Back At Your Door,” and Mickey Guyton on “Where Are We Now?” Peck also brought on Bu Cuaron for “Miénteme,” where the two sing beautifully in Spanish.
Standout tracks include “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)” for its utter danceability, “Back At Your Door” for Debbii Dawson’s crystalline vocals, “Ever You’re Gone” for Teddy Swims’ ability to turn anything into a husky, jazz club staple, “Papa Was A Rodeo” for Molly Tuttle’s incredible picking, and “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other” for taking a little-known 2009 Willie Nelson track and giving it new life in 2024.
Featured Image by Boston Schulz/Shutterstock
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