Recommended tracks: “Horses and Divorces” ft. Miranda Lambert, “Mexico Honey,” “Loneliest Girl”
Similar artists: Ella Langely, Carter Faith, Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves is going back to her roots. Outside of her hometown of Golden, Texas, there is a sign that says “Welcome to Golden: Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere.” It’s a clear tie-in to the name of the album, and with good reason. Geographically, Musgraves went back to small-town Texas, driving “way past common sense” and “past the Dairy Queen” to embrace her hometown and the open space in all its complexities.
Sonically, the Texas native also returns to the classic country sound that helped build a name for her in the genre. Echoing her debut album Same Trailer Different Park, Middle of Nowhere pulls heavily from Musgraves’ home state, with clear Mexican music influences.
This album is inspired by the in-between spaces in the world, with Musgraves finding the middle ground in aspects of her relationships and life overall. Navigating this period of singleness, Musgraves shares stories about men who leave (“ironic time of year for you to disappear”), can’t commit (“everybody wants to be a cowboy these days until it’s time to stay”), and simply “don’t know what they want.”
Musgraves is at times lonely, but also comfortable in the solitude, sharing on “Loneliest Girl” that she’s “getting better at being alone” and that there are benefits of having to answer to no one but yourself: “me is all that I need.” This isn’t the airy, namaste-era Musgraves of Deeper Well; it’s something more grounded as she’s making peace with the gray areas and uncertainties of life.
While this is the most twangy album from Musgraves in years, that doesn’t mean she’s lost the distinct edge that has made her stand out in Nashville. Musgraves’ tongue-in-cheek language twists and double entendres in “Dry Spell” and the earworm of an opening hook on “Mexico Honey” prove she still knows how to make a hit.
Compared to Musgraves’ previous work, this is a feature-heavy album. “Everybody Wants to be a Cowboy” features Billy Strings; Gregory Alan Isakov is featured on “Coyote,” and Musgraves’ friend Willie Nelson even makes an appearance.
The feature fans are most excited about, however, is that of Miranda Lambert on “Horses and Divorces,” a particular standout as Musgraves and Lambert find common ground through the shared experiences of keeping animals and ending marriages. Each feature feels intentional, and adds a new dimension to her sound.
This album strikes the right balance of all the different elements of Musgraves’ discography. Mixing nostalgic sounds with the skill and emotional depth from her more recent lyrics, along with adding some new voices, this feels like a clear evolution in both her life and her art. Despite the images of sprawling land and no cell service, on Middle of Nowhere Kacey Musgraves seems like she’s right where she needs to be.
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