Tommy Richman needed to prove he was more than a one-hit wonder. 

The singer broke through into the mainstream earlier this year with his smash hit “MILLION DOLLAR BABY.” The song combined classic R&B production with a trap beat, soon becoming a popular sound on TikTok and currently sitting at 841 million streams on Spotify.

With the album’s announcement in August, COYOTE served to keep the momentum of Richman’s newfound popularity rolling. But  the album, released Friday, received a lukewarm reception and only a fraction of the streams of his past releases.

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Richman plays it safe on the album in order to not divert from the expectations set by “MILLION DOLLAR BABY.”

Thematically, COYOTE chronicles Richman’s turbulent emotions after a breakup. Topics range from his romanticized view of his partner, frustrations over a one-sided relationship and depression following the breakup. 

The closing song, “seems like time moves forever,” provides the most poignant lyrics on the album. Richman’s line, “I don’t hear a word from you / ‘Cause the silence is loud,” is profound and encapsulates the song’s empty feeling. 

Rapper mynameisntjmack delivers a similarly cutting verse about his regret for not doing better in his relationship: “I never was clever, it seemed like time / Could move on forever, is it perpetual?”

Richman masks his angst through upbeat production, but it creeps into the mellower tracks.  “GIVE IT ALL” features lines like, “And you know the last thing you did was call me a liar / I said that I’m done and I’m tired,” opposing the otherwise laidback production. 

Richman’s influences are evident, with throwbacks to various shades of R&B and funk. “TEMPTATIONS” is taken straight from early-80s Michael Jackson, featuring a funky bassline and warm synths. The song carries a passionate, gleeful feeling that shines throughout — even if Richman isn’t breaking new ground.

On the other hand, his signature falsetto sounds eerily similar to his peers at times. The opening song, “ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM,” could pass as Thundercat or Steve Lacy to an unassuming listener. While noticeable, it never detracts entirely from the tracks. 

The album also celebrates early ‘90s R&B with songs like “THOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONE,” combining the vintage production of acts like Boyz II Men and Jodeci with a dynamic trap beat. 

However, COYOTE is at its best when it combines these classic ideas with modern synthpop. The song “WHITNEY” fuses early funk to a beat reminiscent of artists like Tame Impala. The song’s hook, “Baby, you are not the same in my dreams,” is infectious and easily the most memorable, energetic moment on the tracklist. 

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“VANITY” is another example of this successful combination, complete with a nice instrumental break halfway through. Richman’s falsetto lends itself well to synth-heavy production, creating a psychedelic yet danceable vibe with a great guitar solo toward the end

Though Richman soars on high-energy tracks, he occasionally stumbles in the album’s slower, more basic moments.

Some songs forgo any innovative production choices. “TENNESSEE” functions as a standard trap song and ends up feeling muddled and inoffensive. “WHISPER IN MY EAR” similarly opts for a contemporary R&B sound, but does little to stand out within the evolving genre. 

While it has some missteps, COYOTE is far from a bad album as Richman made vintage sounds come alive in a modern context.