Album Review: Coyote by Tommy Richman

Tommy Richman steps into his own with his newfound fifteen minutes of fame, but his debut album on Brent Faiyaz’s label doesn’t match the caliber of “Million Dollar Baby” and “Devil is a Lie."

Courtesy of PULSE Records.

Tommy Richman has been making waves in the music scene, but his rise to fame wasn’t instantaneous. Despite the rapid success of “Million Dollar Baby,” he has been honing his craft since 2016, with early tracks available on SoundCloud and Spotify. Before unfounded “industry plant” claims begin to circulate, it’s essential to acknowledge Richman’s small discography. His collaboration with Brent Faiyaz on “Upset” sparked widespread interest, but it wasn’t until “Million Dollar Baby” dropped that Richman truly gained momentum.

The Virginia-born singer’s versatility is evident in his genre-bending style, which spans R&B and punk rock. This eclecticism caught Faiyaz’s attention, leading him to sign Richman and take him on tour.” Million Dollar Baby” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 50 chart, shattering records as the longest-running song to do so. The single also climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and garnered over 745 million streams on Spotify by August 27. Richman’s subsequent releases, “Baby” and “Devil Is a Lie,” charted impressively, with “Baby” reaching the top of the Pop Airplay chart and “Devil Is a Lie” peaking at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100.

All of this aside, none of the big singles are on this project, and it would’ve benefited that it did because much of his debut album, Coyote, is painfully below average. Some records have some decent production chops, but Richman’s gimmicky cadence style ruins it. “Whisper In My Ear,” “Letterman,” and “Temptations” have nice grooves, with Richman later crooning about the inner conflicts and reflections of an individual striving for realness amidst a backdrop of disillusionment and yearning; however, it’s all over the place in sound as he doesn’t know which style he sticks too. “Vanity” evokes an 80s-style beat that portrays a narrative filled with personal upheaval and Richman’s quest for self-reliance. Unfortunately, the song is six minutes and drags to eternity.

The single “Thought You Were the One” is melodically catchy and makes it one of the better tunes, even if it comes off as a joke to many. “Give It All” reworks the same sample you heard repeatedly, which does no favors as you’re better off listening to Nelly’s “Luven Me” to hear something executed properly. Coyote’s positive attribute is the soulful “Green Therapy” as he dives into personal and familial struggles, illustrating the turmoil and quest for self-understanding, and “Tennessee” pays homage to Memphis roots that have him confronting his precarious circumstances and turbulent emotions. The rest of the album you’ll forget by this weekend as Tommy Richman cannot figure out his identity as an artist because he’s just another TikTok musician.

Slightly Below Average (★★½☆☆)

Favorite Track(s): “Tennesee,” “Green Therapy”