Orville Peck galloped into 2019 with Pony, a debut that turned heads from all corners of the music world. The masked, queer cowboy flipped the country genre on its head, making for one of the boldest statements of the year.

Channeling the likes of legendary figures like Johnny Cash, Peck gives the golden age of country an update with dreamy guitar tones and lyrics that subvert the genre’s heteronormative tropes. For example, look no further than ‘Queen of the Rodeo,’ a song actually about a drag queen from Canada.

Adding to the records allure is an element of mystery. Orville Peck is just a stage name, and he never performs or goes anywhere without his draped mask and cowboy hat. Thus, he fully embodies the Western archetype of a stranger that just blew in from out of town. Looking deeper, that decision is very thoughtful. If it weren’t for the mask, Peck may not be able to perform such vulnerable songs.

Beyond the persona, what makes Pony so great is the unforgettable songs. One listen to the haunting opening number ‘Dead of Night’ and you’ll instantly be transported into his nostalgic realm. At the end of the day, Peck may reach into the past, but his boots are planted firmly in the future.

8.8/10