Kacey Musgraves has a new album on the way May 1st called Middle of Nowhere, and it stands to be at least a partial return to her country roots, even if that’s not exactly reflected in the album’s lead single.
Musgraves also says, “For me, sonically, it’s always about exploring the borders of country music. I think this album has a lot to do with borders, and honestly, [so does] every album of mine, because country shares fence lines with so many other styles. I’m really interested in [looking] where those two meet and then making something new. I love bluegrass and there’s a little bit of that breezy ’70s, ’80s, ’90s country that I love so much and then there’s also a lane where country meets traditional Mexican music, norteno and even zydeco down in Louisiana. So in a way, I don’t think the record is any different than anything else I’ve done, but it does lean a little harder into the country palette.”She also says of the writing process, “I was just like, ‘Hey, would you guys want to get together and write some like super country s***? Even just for fun, just see what we can get.’”With the album’s debut single “Dry Spell,” we definitely get the strong return of Kacey’s kitschy, campy, racy, clever, tongue-in-cheek type of approach that’s willing to get near borders, but doesn’t cross them, instead relying on innuendo, and what’s not said directly—all seductive lyrical mechanisms that can work very well in country music. This is also all well-illustrated in the video for the single.
However, the song itself just doesn’t come with any of the musical country bonafides you were wishing or hoping for, especially with all the rhetoric from Musgraves. Maybe there’s a little bit of a Western favor with it. But overall the sound is just, dry. Granted, it’s just an opening single, meant to stir attention and conversation (which it certainly has), and not necessarily serve red meat to the traditional country constituency. But “Dry Spell” does serve up something that’s been mostly missing from the country music diet ever since Musgraves went in a more demure, indie rock direction. Middle of Nowhere is not going to be a traditional country record. But don’t be surprised if we hear some straight traditional country songs on it, similar to the new record from Megan Moroney. This is a more country moment for country music. Artists who are smart and don’t worry about the radio like Musgraves, this is the moment to pivot back to their roots, and what they do best. Hopefully Middle of Nowhere brings Kacey Musgraves back where she’s excels the best: somewhere in country. Middle of Nowhere is now available for pre-save/pre-order. TRACK LIST: 01 “Middle Of Nowhere”02 “Dry Spell”03 “Back On The Wagon”04 “I Believe In Ghosts”05 “Abilene”06 “Coyote” (Feat. Gregory Alan Isakov)07 “Loneliest Girl”08 “Everybody Wants To Be A Cowboy” (Feat. Billy Strings)09 “Horses And Divorces” (Feat. Miranda Lambert)10 “Uncertain, Texas” (Feat. Willie Nelson)11 “Rhinestoned”12 “Mexico Honey”13 “Hell On Me”
My most anticipated album of 2026! Great article with NPR, thank you for mentioning it.
I’m not familiar with Gregory Alan Isakov, but definitely looking forward to the other 3 features.
That’s a mighty campy video for sure with lots of non-verbal imagery-filled innuendoes and a little spaghetti western guitar served on the side. A conversation started for sure. Musically, its kinda like kin to “Choosin’ Texas.” And it leaves me wonderin’ if radio will bite? It’s not a horrible song, but I’ll wait for the album.
I’m curious for this new album, although I have to say Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk’s production style has really gotten long in the tooth for me going back to “Star Crossed”.
It worked overall for “Golden Hour” because the simple, romantic, sun-kissed glow of Musgraves’ songwriting at the time matched the tone of their production. But with “Star Crossed”…………for as overwhelmingly hyped as the album was in advance and Vanity Fair and other publications making it out to be some creatively ambitious tour de force akin to a modern Shakespearean play in multiple acts……………it was just bland and uninspired all around and a large part of what made it so can be directly attributed to the production. And those tendencies carried over into “Deeper Well”, despite Musgraves’ songwriting being more inspired for that album.
So with that duo returning for her fourth consecutive project…………..doesn’t inspire the utmost confidence. Still I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised.
Source: savingcountrymusic.com