Projecting energetic alt-rock across the globe, Sydney group The Buoys channel anthemic melodies and an unmistakable chemistry on their sophomore record ‘Concrete Cowboy’. Speaking on the origins of the nature of the album’s creation, the band state that “we were in the studio together when the phrase came to us: too many tabs open. That became the heartbeat of the record”. It is no surprise that the constant overload of information, lack of direction and social exhaustion of modern life drives a certain emotion to be produced in song. The Buoys’ new record aims to bottle these frustrations and release them in a song like ‘Kill You Back’ or ‘Alone In Vegas’ which speaks to modern day social fatigues in a remarkably succinct manner. 

The record’s influences incorporate a wide array of genres, songwriting styles and artforms, from and the 1975 to 1980’s cult films and Roman poetry. Overall, there is a clear attempt on this album to explore themes of duality, the “attempt to explore both life’s beauties and complexities all in one” as the band put it. Some may argue that to tackle such a moral balancing act in an album may seem near on impossible, but The Buoys present the mammoth task through the sense of not reckoning with the world, overthinking everything around you, but simply experiencing and reflecting. 

Musically speaking, the choruses are catchy, dreamy and wistful of trying to make the best out of a situation you cannot fully comprehend. From start to finish, the record is anchored on strong guitar hooks, straight-ahead backbeats and a voice that adds an angelic tone over the dynamic instrumentation. Lyrically, ‘Concrete Cowboy’ seems to follow a trend in contemporary songwriting on the state of the world where lyrics often portray a personal miscommunication with the world around the artist. it’s not that The Buoys cannot understand the world, nor is it to criticise their methods, it is that there writing instead explores the breakdown in how connected they feel to the world. Society is now often treated in song like a runaway train, something we have lost complete sight of and fear there may be no rescuing.  However, in all this madness, a song like ‘Tell Me It Gets Better”, or ‘Stay Up To Date On Politics’ is written. ‘Concrete Cowboy’ hinges itself on this view of desperate adaptations to an ever-changing world. 

Nevertheless, the album flows with ease, drops the pace when required, and picks it up again at multiple points. With production by (Gang of Youths, Matt Corby) and co-writes from , , and , the record has all the outside input required for an album which manages to keep itself fresh throughout. This will most certainly act as a perk on their upcoming headline UK/EU tour in February 2027, an eleven-show stint to showcase their newest musical efforts to a fresh audience. With experience supporting acts such as Arctic Monkeys and Royal Blood, The Buoys’ confidence will be at an all-time high, meaning these shows are destined to do this album the justice it so rightly deserves. All in all, ‘Concrete Cowboy’ is further demonstration of The Buoys unmistakable talent for a decent hook and lyricism which paints an accurate (although sadly glum) picture of today, in a manner which seeks to honour the age-old past-time of a bit of nihilism. 

7/10