Kacey Musgraves returns to her roots with Middle of Nowhere, an album that deftly blends humour and introspection, while her country-pop sound draws influence from new genres such as regional Mexican music. Oddly enough, it works perfectly, making it her best project since Golden Hour.
“I wanna be somewhere in the middle of nowhere, I think maybe I’ll just stay there,” are the words with which the artist opens her new record on the title track, Middle of Nowhere, featuring a chorus that shifts into a half-time feel after her more upbeat verses. Within that calm, Musgraves finds her place; though reaching that point has clearly taken some work. Deeper Well spoke to us of Saturn’s return and a personal transformation that had a musical impact on that record, marking a turning point in the songwriter’s career following the more pop-oriented star-crossed.
But personal reflection doesn’t mean there’s no room for fun, as she makes clear in Dry Spell, a song that humorously addresses the artist’s “sexual drought”. Littered with innuendos throughout the catchy single, she makes her intentions clear with a firm “yup” that only serves to enhance one of her best songs to date. That ironic tone continues in Back On The Wagon, in which the narrator clings to the possibility that someone might change, even though, deep down, they know it won’t happen and it’s all just a mirage.
I Believe In Ghosts and Loneliest Girl are sure to be favourites among fans of Golden Hour. Both are dreamy, guitar-driven tracks that tackle very different themes. In the former, the artist expresses her disappointment and anger after being ghosted by someone who “didn't even have the balls to tell her goodbye,” while the latter celebrates her solitude, much as she did previously in Lonely Weekend.
The Musgraves of her early albums is back in top form on two of the collaborations, both for the references to her hometown and for the playful tone and musicality, which this time is infused with regional Mexican music. Horses and Divorces is effectively Girl, so confusing (country version). She and Miranda Lambert finally bury the hatchet following their long-standing feud in a song where the two share everything they have in common. Uncertain, TX is another welcome track featuring Willie Nelson, infused with Tex-Mex sounds and topped off with an addictive cowbell.
The highlights continue to land. Rhinestoned is reminiscent of Neon Moon, a song the artist has performed live many times (and even released her own version of), while Mexico Honey is a smooth, sensual track with subtle R&B influences, a genre that suits the songwriter perfectly, as seen in her remix of waves with Miguel.
Middle of Nowhere may not be a radical departure from her discography, and although she still owes us a purely electronic and psychedelic album, it is a wonderful addition to her body of work. It reinforces the fact that, once again, she has left an indelible mark on a generation of artists.