Kacey Musgraves is known for being a country-pop singer and the first artist to win in all four country Grammy categories. On March 15, she released a new album, “Deeper Well”, described as folk-rock that could make fans want to put down their cowboy hats and go twirl in a field.
“Deeper Well” is Musgraves’ sixth studio album. She released her album at a great time in her career after a Grammy-winning collaboration with Zach Bryan in 2023 and featuring on soundtracks since her last album in 2021, “star-crossed”. Some of her albums tell time across different points in her life, from falling in love in “Golden Hour” to mourning her divorce in star-crossed”. “Deeper Well” explores her struggles with being alone and finding herself within nature.
Over the years, her genre has stayed mostly country, and the farthest she has strayed from country-pop is her occasional Christmas album. “Deeper Well” is described as having more folk-rock inspiration. She used acoustic guitar, banjo, pedal steel guitar and her classic echoed vocals.
Many songs on the album incorporate themes of being alone, changing and finding yourself. The title track “Deeper Well” nods to her painful breakup and the decision to not stay somewhere she doesn’t belong. The phrase “Deeper Well” might suggest that she finds what she needs to survive within herself instead of in her relationships. She is growing up and finally breaking toxic habits and enjoying her new life.
After a quick skip through songs, a prominent critique is that they all sound very similar. They all have nature-related titles, starting with gentle strumming and fuzzy echo sounds before leading the listener into more lyrics that explore love or loneliness. “Lonely Millionaire” stands out from the non-nature-inspired title and includes a hook with an intro sampled from Kody Blu 31 by JID. The lyrics don’t fit in as much with the aesthetic, but they match the theme, which can be described simply as “money can’t buy happiness”. “Anime Eyes” is another track that doesn’t match the vibe of the album but is surprisingly fantastical. It feels a little bit magical to listen to feels like falling in love.
Some songs on the album seem straightforward with simple lyrics, while others like “The Architect” are about the existence of a god and divine intervention. Her questions of whether religion can help her change herself contrast greatly with the song “Heart of the Woods” which is peaceful but sleepy. The rhythm is something, but the lyrics aren’t anything special. It begins with a neighborhood underground that communicates through trees and speaks a million different languages. Later, she describes taking care of those in danger in the heart of the woods, which might represent a safe place. This could show that she thinks nature can connect us and our human instinct to put aside differences, or in this case a language barrier, and care for other people.
While the album has a bit of similar sounds between songs, her lyrics differ greatly and express the real emotions of Musgraves and her fears. It’s worth it to pick through a bit of echo and find favorites as a fan of folk-rock or any of her work.
