The Listener’s Songs of the week: New tracks from Beyoncé, Tami Neilson, and Lorde

By Beyoncé

Despite her rodeo trick-riding on the cover, Beyoncé's supposed new country album Cowboy Carter doesn’t really stay down on the farm, even with Willie Nelson and “Dolly P” offering between-track comments, a cover of Joelene and songs named for cowboy pants (Levii’s Jeans) and handguns (Desert Eagle). Oh, and it’s got songs referencing and sampling Linda Martell one of the first African-American country stars. But towards the end, it’s out of the roadhouse and back to the nightclub, at its best on Ya Ya, which lifts bits of Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots Are Made for Walking and the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations on an infectious soul stomper that possibly has a certain Outkast song in its DNA too. – Russell Baillie

By Tami Neilson

After Sister’s Coming Home in mid-February, here’s the second release in the “Neilson sings Nelson” series recorded at the country godfather’s studio last year, originally as a 90th birthday gift to the old fella. Anyone who knows the original tune – which Elvis Presley did in 1972, then Nelson did 10 years later, or Neilson’s voice – might think there’s a high potential for something lovely. It certainly is. The video for the track features footage inside the vault at Nelson’s Pedernales Studio. – Russell Baillie

By Lorde

According to the neighbours, fans are “losing their minds” that Lorde has released a cover – actually, it’s a cover of a cover – for a 40th anniversary tribute album to the Talking Heads concert film and LP Stop Making Sense. Those who know the Heads’ slinky version, or the Al Green original, might well be not losing quite as much, cranially speaking. It’s a likeable, if unremarkable, and rather breathy take on the wobbly-bottomed baptismal soul number, which was once successfully covered by an animatronic fish.

Oh well, Lorde says she’s long liked the band that her mum introduced her to, so it’s a genuine fan gesture. Hopefully, the tracks by the sixteen acts aren’t going to drag out until the 40th anniversary of the release date in October. And you have to feel for Kimbra, who’s actually performed with David Byrne, that she wasn’t on the guest list. – Russell Baillie

By Jim Nothing

A charming seasonal wee number from Jim Nothing (James Sullivan) apparently inspired by life inside the Grey Lynn veterans’ club (“It’s Easter at the RSC/ Old timers try their luck at the TAB”) and given a Voom/JPSE sweet-and-sour mix of chiming guitar and wobbly drone. – Russell Baillie