It’s been eight years since Kacey Musgraves released her Golden Hour album to rave reviews. Since then she has released a couple of good albums before releasing Middle Of Nowhere in May on her original record label, Lost Highway. Of the thirteen tracks, only one is over four minutes long with all of them breezing by, moving effortlessly between pop and country on a number of tracks.
A pedal steel guitar powers “Back On The Wagon” with the ambiance of a slow trot about a guy who keeps trying again and again and again. The cowboys on “Uncertain TX” just can’t seem to make up their minds but she does find common ground with fellow country star Miranda Lambert on the fun “Horses and Divorces”.
The album starts off with two of the album’s high points. Musgraves sings the title track with co-producer Daniel Tashien, the extra voice is a great addition as she sings, “It’s just me and me, and that’s all I need”. “Dry Spell” is her take at Lily Allen themes, the double entendre lows of being between partners on the catchy as all heck single. The whole thing closes on the heartfelt acoustic finale “Hell On Me”. At just over 40 minutes, there is a lot to like on Middle Of Nowhere as Kacey Musgraves makes handling the highs and lows of life sound like an easy pop tune.
8/10
The Light Appears 