Single Review: ‘Cowboy’ – Angel Mary And The Tennessee Werewolves

Single Review: ‘Cowboy’ – Angel Mary and the Tennessee Werewolves

12 years ago Liv Carter 27

Songwriters: Angel Mary, Doug Phelps

There was a time when I would expect more from artists who listed Johnny Cash as a major influence. But that is starting to change. It seems that, lately, those who invoke Cash’s memory are the ones most in need of a reminder of what made his music so special: artistic integrity and simplicity; two qualities of which the Angel Mary and the Tennessee Werewolves debut single, ‘Cowboy,’ is devoid.

Starting out with an unnecessary guitar riff, and with the loudness dialed up into the burgundy range, this song has the female lead singing about the boy her mama warned her about. We are constantly told what a rebel and an outlaw he is, and by association so is the girl, but the lyrics offer no evidence for this claim.

The production is all over the place and further helps ensure that this song does not know what it wants to be. The vocal phrasing is strangely chosen. Mary swerves from her confident midrange to an irritating soft voice (I can only assume this is meant to be playfully seductive), which heaps even more unhelpful stereotypes onto this. This song exists in a world where men need to be tough cowboys and women need to prove their strength by being ‘one of the guys’.

This single, and the trio, simply try too hard to convince me of who and what they are. A tip for songwriters who think that merely repeating what you would like to be perceived as will make it so: apply the principle of ‘show and tell.’ Show us listeners what you are all about with the use of examples and imagery. That way, by the time you tell us you’re a rebel, or whatever else, you will have already given us a reason to believe you.

This song is “the girl version of Big & Rich‘s ‘Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy’,” the press material states. ‘Save a Horse’ was a joke. This is too, it just wasn’t meant as one.

Listen at angelmary.net

About
Latest Posts

Liv Carter

Liv is a career coach for creatives, and the people who work with them.
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.

Latest posts by Liv Carter (see all)

Well yes, racism, but it’s more complicated - February 13, 2017
Black River Entertainment had a great reason to party! - October 25, 2016
Keith Urban returns to the States for US arena leg of his “ripCORD WORLD TOUR 2016” - October 10, 2016

Angel Mary and the Tennessee Werewolves, Big & Rich, Johnny Cash

Artists + songwriters

Dave R.

I think they have a great sound. Wish them all the best. They got photographed as a star sighting at the CMA Festival and are now in Getty Images Library. I smell big future. Theartis like all will grow. They told Elvis to go back to truck driving…… They will be just fine ;)
- LivCarter
  
  Every participating artist at CMA Fest was photographed so that’s no indication of success. I honestly gave this a fair shot, like every new song, but I can’t endorse anything about this song or the performance. Maybe they have better, maybe not.
  
  For now, the only werewolf allowed around here is Alcide Herveaux. Just sayin’. :)
Todd Price

I love this band and there music !! Great Song, I’m a Fan http://www.angelmary.net
Angel Picard-Ami

Thanks to the Fans for letting me know about this ..it’s laughable cause Liv Carter has never been to any of our shows or performances sounds fishy ….but to my fans you Rock.
- Josels23
  
  This is a “Single” review… not a show or performance review… There is a big defference
- LivCarter
  
  Your live show has nothing to do with this; this is a review of one song, not a live review. Surely you understand the difference?
  
  Maybe I’ll like the live performance. Maybe I’ll like other songs on the record. I stay objective and evaluate everything separately.
  - Dave R.
    
    I will say this LivCarter. You sure started something with this topic. Obviously they have lots of fans. I think 11,000 plus on Facebook alone. Doug Phelps believed in them enough to take on a project together. For a new artist to be involved with someone of his stature or Montgomery’s stature. I would say regardless of your negative spin on this one song you don’t care for. Ease up a little. Look into the EP surely there is something nice to say for the love of your fellow artist. As for your rebuttle on my poorly executed statement above. Yes I suppose many are photographed. Then again you would need to stand on a red carpet yourself. Last time I predicted the pop group the Coors would win a Grammy. I am nobody special. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Talked with them after ashow when they started to cross over here in the states. I told the Jim Coor the lead singer Andreas brother the would be there some day. He replied “I , wouldn’t that be grand?” The won several. I will say now to you. They will at the very least be at the CMA awards someday very soon. That’s just MY opinion…
    - Dave R.
      
      Sorry for the typo’s
    - LivCarter
      
      Saying they have a lot of fans is an ‘argument from popularity’, bringing up Doug Phelps is an ‘argument from authority’, and saying you were right about a band in the past is an ‘argument from accomplishment’. All of these are logical fallacies and do not even begin to prove that you are right about this trio. (And you predicted success for The Coors when they were already successful, not after their debut single. Big difference.)
      
      And it’s not ‘many are photographed,’ but all, like I said. I was actually in the convention center watching them be photographed and there is no red carpet. Whether I myself do or do not stand on red carpets has once again no bearing at any of this.
      
      As this trio sounds now and with the way country radio is now, they do not have a chance of a big hit. Harsh, but true. And the CMAs? Without a solid record deal with a very established company that has come clout in the music industry political game, no way.
      
      I don’t know who this trio are to you, or why you are so invested in this, but the fact that this single didn’t blow up radio playlists gives a little more support for my opinion than it does for yours.
      - Dave R.
        
        I predicted the Coors would win a Grammy not their success…that’s number one. Number 2, their following is growing hugely in recent months. I am just suggesting you give them a bit more credit is all. I don’t know how long it took you to get your career really moving forward. I am quite sure it didn’t happen over night. I am a performer myself & critics really crack me up sometimes. Book critics will review a book, in some cases without reading very much of it. I suppose in retrospect your point or the other guys about reviewing the single may be true. Your reviewing the single. I happen to think its pretty good. I like the edgy intro guitar. I love Phelps harmony in the song as well. Know you are saying they don’t stand a chance? Seriously? They are just starting off. She gas a solid voice. She will find her way eventually. Everybody has room for growth. Elvis was told he should go back to driving a truck by someone with a bad opinion. Am I saying they are in Elvis territory? No, it was also someone elses opinion. I love country music, some more then others. I just have a feeling about these guys. Renegade Radio certainly gets a lot of requests for it it made it up to the top ten. Above some pretty big names in country music. Just say in’
sallyWeb98

I Love this band my new favorite song! I like my cowboy Gotta have my cowboy!
JoeHall28

This band is Great saw them at mercy lounge on the Billy Block show can’t wait to see them monday at Hard Rock….cool to see a band raising money for the Colorado theater Victims. Angel Mary …I’ll be your cowboy Anytime..;)
JRCountry

Liv Cater Quote
“Why do people make fun of country music?
I’d say out of ignorance. If all someone knows is the stereotype, they’re going to make fun of it.
The observation that the songwriters are less ‘country’ is interesting, and true. My favorite writer here in Nashville (or anywhere else, to be honest) is a guy called Rick Huckaby. He’s written hits for Tracy Lawrence and Trace Adkins but when left to it he plays a lot of blues-influenced material.
The big problem, if one sees it that way, in county music today is corporate radio dictating what people will listen to, and subsequently dumbing things down to the level of Luke Bryan’s ‘Country Girl Shake it for Me’. That song, I make fun of because it downright deserves it!”
————————————————————————————————————————————

We all love Tracy Lawrence and Trace Adkins.. I believe Trace Adkins does a song called honky tonk badonkadonk kinda like shake it for me, save horse ride a cowboy, and cowboy by Angel Mary & The Tennessee Werewolves

Luke Bryan Went Platinum with “Country Girl Shake it”:…sometimes the best songs are just plain simple,and fun…even if Liv Carter thinks it dumb…she sure doesn’t look smart when it comes to singling out hits…so I’m guessing if she says naye…the rest of us in the country music industry world are saying yaye 2 thumbs up and going strong.
- LivCarter
  
  Nothing in that quote contradicts anything in this review.
  
  Did you think that by saying I like one of Adkins’ songs I am therefore saying I like them all, and that by then pointing to ‘Honky Tonk Badonkadonk’ you had some sort of ‘gotcha!’? Adkins has recorded several great songs, many okay ones, but that one if a sexist piece of junk, as is Luke Bryan’s ‘Country Girl.’
  
  And do you think that the measure of quality is popularity? The song was a hit therefore it’s a good song? Because by analogy, that would have you arguing that McDonald’s makes the best quality food. I also never said those songs wouldn’t be hits, and in many cases I actually predicted they would get to #1. Me saying that I think a song isn’t good is not the same as me saying it won’t be a hit.
- Josels23
  
  There’s a difference in a song being “artistically” successful and “politically” successful… Just because a song becomes big doesn’t make it a good song.. Just because a song doesn’t make it on the charts doesn’t make it a bad song… Many times labels push songs they know are garbage just because they know it’ll make money and people will listen simply because it’s catchy.. But that doesn’t mean the song holds any substance… For example, the song Red Solo Cup.. it’s god awful, one of the worst songs I have ever heard both vocally and lyrically, however, I see the genius in it and I can understand why and how it made lots of money… Was it popular? Yes it was, does that make it a well written song? Hell no, it certainly does not
WedPIXXO

Angel Mary & The Tennessee Werewolves Rock….I was so excited as I was driving to work to hear this song “Cowboy” on The Radio in Kentucky. Keep up the Good work …and y’all got some great feedback from a lot of people. YAYE!!!

Grammy Award winning Artist Doug Phelps teams up with Angel Mary and The Werewolf gang giving a duet twist on his song “Waiting on you”. Quote Doug Phelps: “Tony Bowles and Larry Goad wrote the music and I wrote the lyrics in 30 mins. it’s just one of those songs.” Doug’s Vocals are also featured on the song “Cowboy ” written by Angel Mary, Antoine Wolf, and Christian Wolf. Quote Angel Mary: “This song is supposed to be sexy haha there’s something about cowboys and The Kentucky Headhunters …well I knew it was right up their alley. I think the country gals know what I’m talking about, they love it too.”
Critics seem to enjoy this rockin’ tune as much as Angel Mary & The Tennessee Werewolves fans.
“I was blown away with this project! Angel Mary & The Tennessee Werewolves have the whole package as an artist! They write lyrics beyond their years and I love the way they have melded their country influences and rock n roll attitude. I’m excited about writing with them in the upcoming weeks and truly believe there is something special in this project.” -Doug Phelps, Grammy Award winner/CMA Award winning producer, singer/bass guitarist for The Kentucky Headhunters.
——————————–
“I love country music’s newest trio…”Angel Mary and the Tennessee Werewolves!” Their debut song “Cowboy” feels like a Southern style rock jam and it makes for great radio play. I think the song has potential to be a crossover hit….it just makes you feel good no matter what genre of music you prefer. The song makes the women “want” a cowboy and it makes the men “want to be” a cowboy! No matter how great you sing, if you heart’s not in it everything is just notes and words…there’s no reason why these musicians can’t become bona fide stars!” -Lisa Clark, WAIN 93.5 Hot Country.
——————————–
“Angel Mary & The Tennessee Werewolves are a blast in the studio as well as on stage, I look for BIG things from them, their style of Country Music adds another amazing sound to the format, YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!!” –Jack Aponte (Captain Jack), Renegade Radio Nashville.
——————————–
“Angel Mary is a force to be reckoned with!” -BIlly Block
—————————————————————–
- LivCarter
  
  The ‘well, other people seem to like it defense’ doesn’t convince me, especially if it’s positive feedback from people whose livelihood depends on saying positive things…
AlexiaSassyGirl

You know what I like about Angel Mary’s voice …it’s different. That girl has got some power and attitude. She reminds me of a Tanya Tucker or Janis Joplin. You Go girl !! Can you find me that cowboy your talking about … give him my number lol
- LivCarter
  
  Agreed, also with the Tanya Tucker comparison.
annaloveshank3

your right …I wonder how she would sound doing piece of my heart.I could see that. That would be pretty cool. I’m sick of the same cookie cutter voices out there. Angel Mary your blessed girl :) get down with your bad self.
JoshMills17

She should do “Texas (When I die )” I miss that song. I’m digging the music. Does anyone know if they are going to be playing anyway near North Carolina ?
ElaineW25

Love Angel Mary & The Tennessee Werewolves! Love the band love the sound love the song! Y’all kick some country ass!!!

Little Rebellion Music

It's a good thing now and then…

Main Menu