By John Custodio

Orville Peck (“Dead of Night”) released his second studio album “Bronco” on April 8 to favorable response from professional and casual critics on websites like Metacritic.

Known for his unique style of dress and cryptic personality, Peck draws attention by never revealing his face, opting to constantly wear a classic cowboy hat with chin or chest-length fringe to conceal his identity. However, current theory prevails that he is Daniel Pitout of Nu Sensae (“Tea Swamp Park”), as Peck bears the same tattoos and same history as Pitout. Although Pitout has not made a statement, it is clearly the same person. 

Peck’s personal identity as an openly gay performer is especially notable, breaking into a typically conservative genre and collaborating with a variety of pro-LGBTQ organizations and individuals such as drag queen Trixie Mattel (“Two Birds”). Although classical country such as Willie Nelson (“Blue Skies”) and Waylon Jennings (“The Highwaymen”) often falls into the genre of “outlaw country,” being typically anti-establishment and popular with more subcultures, modern country is often thought of as country-pop with popular artists Luke Combs (“She Got the Best of Me”) or Morgan Wallen (“Whiskey Glasses”) with pop music styles and more shallow messages. Many modern country artists are straight white men, so Peck gives a breath of fresh air being openly gay and collaborating with other members of the LGBTQ community while still producing excellent music.

Much like his hit song “Dead of Night,” which talks about Peck’s sexuality, “Bronco” discusses in melancholic prose love and life over 15 songs and a 53 minute runtime. However, most of Peck’s songs on “Bronco” never mention a pronoun or gender of the person sang about, allowing for any interpretation or use of the song. 

Reminiscent of the classic, iconic and insanely depressing gay cowboy movie “Brokeback Mountain,” Peck’s song “Hexie Mountains” takes the album to a more melancholic tone after the bouncy “Bronco.” Crooning lines  like “What happens when the well has dried?/Take me down the dusty side/I can’t find the words/So I guess it’s time/To move on once again/Down the path less tread/And wouldn’t it be nice if I could let the dead stay dead?/The Hexie Mountains said,” discuss love not dying in a blaze of glory or some incredible fight, but fizzling out like a slow-dried well, having been used up entirely. Similar to ranging pasture ranchers knowing when to move herds or flocks on to greener pastures, Peck takes themes from classic cowboy imagery and moves them onto his own personal struggles to discuss knowing when to move on from a love that is simply not there.

However, the album quickly jumps back into quick-paced, exciting songs like “Any Turn,” with quick drums and a twanging guitar. Ending the album with “City of Gold” and “All I can Say,” Peck calms the listener down into a tired, satisfied peace. 

Accompanied by a few music videos, Peck’s second studio album “Bronco” is a success for both the artist but also for a more niche audience of country listeners. Not only can listeners of classic and modern country music listen to the album, but Peck’s use of non-gendered language enables the album to reach a larger audience. “Bronco” expanded the classic country genre while incorporating many modern elements. 

Image from Orville Peck via YouTube