Kacey Musgraves Sounds Right at Home in the ‘Middle of Nowhere’
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Kacey Musgraves’s sixth album, “Middle of Nowhere,” marks a return to a grittier, more down-to-earth sound, contrasting with the serene and frictionless vibe of her previous album “Deeper Well.”
- The album explores themes of loneliness, solitude, and heartbreak, with Musgraves reflecting on toxic relationships and the value of self-discovery rather than simply chronicling a breakup.
- Songs like “Dry Spell” and “Uncertain, TX” blend humor and wit with influences from Tejano and classic country, while tracks such as “Back on the Wagon” and “Hell on Me” reveal emotional vulnerability and complexity.
- Musgraves’s vocal performance on the album is praised for its multifaceted expressiveness, conveying a range of emotions with a glowing, prismatic quality.
- Overall, “Middle of Nowhere” is regarded as Musgraves’s best work since her Grammy-winning “Golden Hour,” balancing realistic introspection with musical texture and bite.
