Carter Vail is the kind of guy who can look on the bright side no matter what. Take one listen to the infectious pop-rock he’s been making since 2018 or watch his hilarious videos on TikTok or Instagram, and you’ll find a relentless optimist who crafts inviting tunes with humor and heart.
Though the Los Angeles songwriter’s sophomore LP 100 Cowboys boasts the same tasteful and turbocharged alternative that dominates his catalog, beneath the breezy arrangements are his most bracingly personal lyrics yet. Written following a devastating breakup, Vail channels messy, heartbroken feelings into nine galvanizing and cathartic songs. It’s as anthemic as it is compelling, all delivered with palpable, tongue-in-cheek charm.
100 Cowboys is a playful and perceptive pop-rock album about getting through a bad time. It takes its title from Vail’s infatuation with campy Spaghetti Westerns and a throwback to his time recording country acts at his former Nashville studio. “I like how like campy old cowboy movies are and in a lot of ways I think that’s what being a musician is like,” says Vail. “You can be your own persona. A lot of these songs are super personal to me but dressing them up as pop and rock songs is a lot of fun. It’s how I can share this brief period of my life that was really sad.”
