Kacey Musgraves released her fourth studio album Same Trailer Different Park earlier this year and it has had amazing success, it has reached number one in the Top Country Albums chart.
After finding out that Kacey Musgraves originally wrote and sang the song Undermine from the hit US TV show Nashville, I knew I had to listen to more of her music. Her most recent album Same Trailer Different Park is an exquisite twelve track Country Folk album with an Infectious Pop twist.
It’s hard to find a review of Kacey Musgraves’ new album that doesn’t compare her to Pop Country singer Taylor Swift. I see the resemblance, a young fresh-faced country girl singing story-like lyrics about Life, Love and Dreams. She may have that similarity but Musgrave’s definitely has her own identity.
Strong women have always been the backbone of Country music and Musgraves is another woman that successfully expresses her feelings, with just her voice and an acoustic guitar. She sings about characters in her songs, such as the trash-talking waitress in the song Blowin’ Smoke, the nosy neighbour in Trailer Song and the substance-addicted family in Merry Go’ Round. As a songwriter Musgraves isn’t afraid to speak the truth, something that is very rare among artists.
The opening track Silver Lining is inspiring, cheerful Pop fluff with a slight Country vibe. With quirky lyrics such as ‘If your ever gonna find a silver lining/ it’s got to be a cloudy day/ If you wanna fill your bottle up with lightening/ you’re gonna have to stand in the rain.’ My House is filled with harmonicas and upbeat guitars, definitely more Country than the first track. The song is fun, happy with strong southern feel flowing through.
Merry Go’ Round has a solemn message, with lyrics such as ‘Mary Mary, quite contrary, we get bored so we get married. Just like dust we settle in this town. On this broken Merry Go’ Round.’ This haunting track is riddled with the lyrical truth of life in a small American town. Dandelion is a slow, acoustic based track with elegant vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Blowin’ Smoke is feisty and bold, so is the album closer It Is What It Is which has an inspiring message of ‘You are who you are.’
At the core, Musgraves is a country traditionalist. This album showcases a dozen of songs that are about the truth. Playing guitar and banjo, her voice riddled with Southern quirks, she sings her straight lyrics, no gimmicks. Same Trailer Different Park is one of my favourite albums of the year. It shows that Country music is still thriving as an individual genre.
Rating 5/5
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