Kacey Musgraves
Middle of Nowhere
Lost Highway
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“I became so at ease with being in the ‘middle of nowhere’ in many senses and sitting in the un-comfort of the undefined,” Kacey Musgraves confides in the press release that accompanies the arrival of her new album Middle of Nowhere. The follow-up to 2024’s Deeper Well and her inaugural effort for the Lost Highway imprint, her Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk co-produced sixth studio album—or seventh if you include 2016’s A Very Kacey Christmas—came to fruition in the wake of a breakup and her newfound singlehood, reminiscent of similar life experiences that inspired 2021’s star-crossed.
But whereas star-crossed is comprised of dramatic and often dark undertones of regret and retribution, Middle of Nowhere finds the lucid Musgraves embracing the uncertainty of change and the freedom of solitude, while affording herself the space and grace to capture this transitional period of her life through song.
Throughout the album’s gestational phase, Musgraves sought clarity in revisiting her small rural stomping grounds of Golden, Texas, which she calls the “aesthetic and emotional center” of the record during a recent conversation with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. The album title itself derives from a sign she encountered there, which reads “Golden: Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere.” The titular, pedal steel guitar steeped opening song “Middle of Nowhere” best evokes the comforts of her hometown, while functioning as an escapist anthem that extols the virtues of a simpler, unencumbered existence free from distractions.
Additionally, Musgraves reconnected with the various symbiotic musical traditions of her native state and neighboring country due south, reverentially embedding country, Tejano, and Norteño influences, along with flourishes of western swing and mariachi, across the 13-track affair. “I love Mexico, I love Mexican music and I was really inspired on this record to explore where country music meets those regional Mexican sounds in my own way, infusing some of those instruments,” she tells Apple Music.
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Those instruments emerge most audibly in the mariachi-imbued “Horses and Divorces.” A peacemaking collaboration with fellow country siren Miranda Lambert, the waltz-like composition finds the pair squashing their previous competitive conflicts by acknowledging their shared interests that extend beyond those mentioned in the title to cowboys, their Texan roots, drinking, and Willie Nelson. And speaking of the music legend, who recently celebrated his 93rd birthday, the subsequent song “Uncertain, TX” features Nelson’s supporting vocals amidst Norteño-indebted accordion, 12-string guitar and cowbell.
Three of Middle of Nowhere’s standout offerings stay true to Musgraves and her production team’s proven penchant for meticulously merging country and pop melodies atop shuffling, midtempo percussion, beginning with “I Believe in Ghosts,” a melancholy lament for a distant, disconnected lover prone to ghosting her. “Loneliest Girl” is a wistful ode to embracing independence with confidence and peace of mind, while the softly swaying “Rhinestoned” finds Musgraves sparking a mutual, marijuana-aided connection over shared heartbreak.
Elsewhere, notable tracks include lead single “Dry Spell,” which alludes to her post-breakup intimacy drought, while showcasing her knack for clever, metaphorical wordplay with wry humor and innuendo (“Ain't nobody's tool up in my shed / Ain't nobody's boots under my bed / Ain't nobody's truck up in my drive”). It’s followed by the country-twang of “Back on the Wagon,” which examines the protagonist’s dubious faith that her partner will successfully sober up this time, for real. Featuring bluegrass powerhouse Billy Strings, “Everybody Wants to Be a Cowboy” is a reflective exploration of the dichotomy between the often-superficial fantasies and realities of people’s lifestyles.
Many have already lauded Middle of Nowhere as Musgraves’ return to her country roots, noting that it retraces similar musical and lyrical steps as her first three LPs (2013’s Same Trailer Different Park, 2015’s Pageant Material and 2018’s GRAMMY Album of the Year award-winning Golden Hour). But a convincing case can be made that she never really left her country pedigree, and has certainly never abandoned the premium the genre has always placed upon the art and craft of songwriting, even if the sonic textures have evolved from album to album.
Indeed, Middle of Nowhere reaffirms Musgraves’ fidelity to country music, enriched by her respect for time, place and broader musical heritage, all while illuminating an artist who remains true to herself and comfortable with the life she is living.
Notable Tracks: “Everybody Wants to Be a Cowboy” | “I Believe in Ghosts” | “Loneliest Girl” | “Middle of Nowhere” | “Rhinestoned” | “Uncertain, TX”
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