Kacey Musgraves Makes The ‘Middle of Nowhere’ A Great Place To Be
Kacey Musgraves fans have wandered out of the forests and fields and into the Middle of Nowhere. After expanding her sound in star-crossed and Deeper Well, Musgraves has gone back to her Texas roots, combining more traditional country with mariachi and norteño sounds that showcases the multicultural landscape of the Lone Star State.
The 13 song album clocks in at 44 minutes and 16 seconds. Across the album, themes of heartbreak, frustration at people’s lack of commitment and forgiveness are sifted through and turned over.
The cheeky first single “Dry Spell” details the struggles of being single – so single that in Musgraves’ words, “Ain’t nobody’s tool up in my shed / ain’t nobody’s boots under my bed.” To complement the lyrics, there’s uptempo drums and twangy electric guitars that put the listener right in the middle of a country dance hall, looking for the perfect two steppin’ partner.
“Coyote” immediately sets the listener on a deserted highway at night with its acoustic guitar, harmonica and lyrics about seeing headlights reflected in the eyes of the title animal. This is a heavier song on the album emotionally, and talks about how the singer now understands the fear of her former partner after she got too close. The first of several features on this album, Gregory Alan Isakov provides earthy background vocals that add depth to this somber and reflective tune.
“Horses and Divorces” is another feature track with fellow woman in country Miranda Lambert. After several years of a rift, Musgraves and Lambert have worked it out on the remix in a song about finding things in common with someone who you used to not get along with. This track utilizes the blend of norteño and country influences through both accordion and steel pedal guitars. This creates a fun and slightly playful song that recognizes the errors of young ego with lyrics like “Hell just froze over / ‘Cause we're both at the bottom of the bottle and we’re findin’ / We've got a few things in common.” Lambert and Musgraves’ vocals also blend nicely together and bring out the distinct East Texas accent of both singers.
Rounding out the end of the album, the bouncy tune “Rhinestoned” plays into a pattern seen on Musgraves’ previous albums that hint at the use of a certain THC infused drug, as seen in the lyrics “we don’t have to be alone / let’s get a little rhinestoned.” The drums’ high hats and cymbals are a standout on this piece, and accentuate Musgraves’ vocals floating over the instrumentals, making the song light and airy.
Middle of Nowhere sounds like Musgraves in her element. She’s got the Grammys to back up her country music prowess, but this latest project sounds like someone who is settled into their career and is sure about the direction it needs to take.
By looking at her home state and drawing influences from other cultures, she takes what’s otherwise a solid country album and puts it on the next level – showing that when we optimize on the talents and contributions of others, it can make everyone better.
