Palomino (Miranda Lambert album)

Palomino is the ninth studio album by American country music singer Miranda Lambert, released through Vanner Records and RCA Records Nashville on April 29, 2022. It is her eighth solo studio album. ^[2] Lambert produced the album alongside Luke Dick and Jon Randall and co-wrote 14 of the 15 tracks.^[3] It was preceded by the single "If I Was a Cowboy".^[4] This is her last album with Sony Music Nashville.^[5]

Palomino
Studio album by Miranda Lambert
Released	April 29, 2022 (2022-04-29)
Genre	Country
Length	50:27
Label	Vanner RCA Nashville
Producer	Miranda Lambert Luke Dick Jon Randall Mikey Reaves
Miranda Lambert chronology
The Marfa Tapes (2021) Palomino (2022) Postcards from Texas (2024)
Singles from Palomino
"If I Was a Cowboy" Released: October 15, 2021 "Strange" Released: July 18, 2022[1]

The album was nominated for the Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year.

Background and writing

Lambert began writing the songs on her farm in Tennessee in 2020 with Luke Dick and Natalie Hemby. In 2021, Lambert collaborated with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall on the album The Marfa Tapes, on which "In His Arms", "Waxahachie", and "Geraldene" first appeared in a "stripped" acoustic form.^[6] The tracks were re-recorded for Palomino.^[7] Lambert collaborated with the B-52's for "Music City Queen" and covered Mick Jagger's 1993 song "Wandering Spirit" for the album.^[8]

Promotion

"Strange" and "Actin' Up" were released ahead of the album as promotional singles.^[9][10] Lambert performed "Geraldine" at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards.^[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	83/100[12]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[13]
And It Don't Stop	A[14]
Paste	8.1/10[15]
Pitchfork	7.6/10[16]
Rolling Stone	[17]

Palomino was well-received by the music critics, On review aggregator Metacritic, Palomino received a score of 83 out of 100 based on seven reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".^[12] In an early review, Jon Freeman of Rolling Stone gave Palomino four out of five stars, calling the album a "welcome departure" for Lambert.^[17] Will Hermes of Pitchfork gave the album a 7.6/10, stating that "Lambert's breadth is on full display".^[16]

Year-end lists

Year-end rankings of Palomino

Publication	List	Rank	Ref.
Los Angeles Times	The 20 Best Albums of 2022	—	[18]
Rolling Stone	The 100 Best Albums of 2022	21	[19]

Commercial performance

Palomino debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 with 36,000 album-equivalent units (including 24,000 album sales), making it the highest debut of 2022 for a country artist and the most units earned in the first week for a country album in 2022. It is Lambert's seventh top-10 album. As of December 2022, the album has over 300 million global streams and 130,000 global sales. ^[20]

Track listing

Palomino track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Actin' Up"	Miranda Lambert Luke Dick Jon Randall	3:25
2.	"Scenes"	Lambert Dick Natalie Hemby	2:54
3.	"In His Arms"	Lambert Jack Ingram Randall	2:39
4.	"Geraldene"	Lambert Ingram Randall	3:01
5.	"Tourist"	Lambert Dick Hemby	3:35
6.	"Music City Queen" (featuring The B-52's)	Lambert Dick Hemby	3:19
7.	"Strange"	Lambert Dick Hemby	3:31
8.	"Wandering Spirit"	Mick Jagger James Rippetoe	3:36
9.	"I'll Be Lovin' You"	Lambert Dick Randall	3:09
10.	"That's What Makes the Jukebox Play"	Lambert Dick Hemby	4:09
11.	"Country Money"	Lambert Aaron Raitiere Mikey Reaves	3:19
12.	"If I Was a Cowboy"	Lambert Jesse Frasure	3:14
13.	"Waxahachie"	Lambert Ingram Randall	3:29
14.	"Pursuit of Happiness"	Lambert Dick Hemby	2:48
15.	"Carousel"	Lambert Dick Hemby	4:19
Total length:			50:27

Personnel

Musicians

• Cary Barlowe – electric guitar
• Sarah Buxton – background vocals
• Luke Dick – acoustic guitar, bass guitar, electric guitar, ganjo, harmonica, keyboards, percussion, programming, steel guitar, background vocals, handclaps
• Fred Eltringham – drums, percussion, handclaps
• Ian Fitchuk – B-3 organ, bass guitar, Fender Rhodes, keyboards, percussion, piano
• Kenny Greenberg – steel guitar
• Natalie Hemby – background vocals
• Miranda Lambert – lead vocals, background vocals
• Jason Lehning – bass guitar, keyboards
• Alfreda McCrary – background vocals
• Beverly McCrary – background vocals
• Regina McCrary – background vocals
• Rob McNelley – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, handclaps
• Al Perkins – pedal steel guitar
• Kate Pierson – background vocals on "Music City Queen"
• Jon Randall – acoustic guitar, mandolin, background vocals, handclaps
• Mikey Reaves – bass guitar, electric guitar, programming
• Fred Schneider – background vocals on "Music City Queen"
• Jimmy Wallace – keyboards
• Cindy Wilson – background vocals on "Music City Queen"
• Craig Young – bass guitar, handclaps

Technical

• Luke Dick – producer (all tracks)
• Miranda Lambert – producer (all tracks)
• Jon Randall – producer (all tracks)
• Mikey Reaves – producer (track 11)
• Jason Lehning – mixing engineer (all tracks)

Other

• Alena Moran – production coordinator (all tracks)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Palomino Chart (2022) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[21] 59 Australian Country Albums (ARIA)[22] 5 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[23] 31 Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] 16 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 36 UK Albums (OCC)[26] 90 UK Country Albums (OCC)[27] 1 US Billboard 200[28] 4 US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[29] 2

Year-end charts 2022 year-end chart performance for Palomino Chart (2022) Position US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[30] 37

References

1. "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations | New Music Artist Free Song".
2. Moreland, Quinn (March 10, 2022). "Miranda Lambert Announces New Album Palomino, Shares Video for New Song "Strange": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
3. Watts, Cindy (March 10, 2022). "Miranda Lambert Reveals New Album "Palomino"". CMT. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
4. Curto, Justin (March 10, 2022). "Miranda Lambert Is Headin' on a 'Musical Journey' and Taking the B-52s". Vulture. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
5. https://twitter.com/mirandalambert/status/1636098741089325058?s=46&t=Sves4saZPsHhyKSF_humYA ^{[bare URL]}
6. Liptak, Carena (March 11, 2022). "Miranda Lambert announces new album 'Palomino'". ABC News. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
7. Hudak, Joseph (March 10, 2022). "Miranda Lambert Covers Mick Jagger, Sings With the B-52's on New Album 'Palomino'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
8. Langeler, Wes (April 30, 2022). "Miranda Lambert Covers Mick Jaggers' "Wandering Spirit" On New Album, 'Palomino'". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
9. Vaughn, Grace Lenehan (March 10, 2022). "Miranda Lambert Hopes New Song 'Strange' Makes Fans 'Feel Lighter on Their Feet'". Taste of Country. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
10. Hudak, Joseph (April 7, 2022). "Miranda Lambert Has Pop-Culture References for Days in New Song 'Actin' Up'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
11. Nicholson, Jessica (October 25, 2022). "Miranda Lambert, Jimmie Allen, Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen Among 2022 CMA Awards Performers". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
12. "Palomino by Miranda Lambert Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
13. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Palomino – Miranda Lambert". AllMusic. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
14. Christgau, Robert (May 11, 2022). "Consumer Guide: May, 2022". And It Don't Stop. Retrieved March 11, 2023 – via Substack.
15. Salmon, Ben (April 28, 2022). "Palomino Is the Latest Excellent Step in Miranda Lambert's Neverending Journey". Paste. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
16. Hermes, Will (April 29, 2022). "Miranda Lambert: Palomino Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
17. Freeman, Jon (April 26, 2022). "Miranda Lambert Goes Her Own Way (As Always) on 'Palomino'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
18. Wood, Mikael (December 4, 2022). "The 20 Best Albums of 2022". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
19. Dolan, Jon (December 4, 2022). "The 100 Best Albums of 2022". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
20. Caulfield, Keith (May 8, 2022). "Future Earns Eighth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'I Never Liked You'". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
21. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 9 May 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1679. Australian Recording Industry Association. May 9, 2022. p. 6.
22. "ARIA Australian Top 40 Country Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
23. "Miranda Lambert Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
24. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
25. "Swisscharts.com – Miranda Lambert – Palomino". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
26. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
27. "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
28. "Miranda Lambert Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
29. "Miranda Lambert Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
30. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2023.