Kacey Musgraves’ win for Album of the Year at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards this February was only the beginning.
2018 and the release of her latest studio album, “Golden Hour,” brought Musgraves a mainstream recognition that independent female country artists couldn’t dream of. She began her rise to fame with her appearance on the reality singing competition show “Nashville Star” in 2007 where she placed seventh. After signing with Mercury Nashville in 2012 she would go on to release “Same Trailer Different Park” and “Pageant Material,” two albums that would garner acclaim and respect in the Country genre for Musgraves. With a talent for creating sonically cohesive bodies of work— albums written with uniform lyrics and production— Musgraves’ first two albums focused on commentary into the social norms of the small town, southern lifestyle. Though both of her first two albums have the traditional Country sound, they defy Country radio with her divergent themes and production— because of this she isn’t typically played on Country stations.
On Mar. 30 of 2018 “Golden Hour” would drop— now was Musgraves’ chance to revel in the beauty this world and her life had to offer. Written on the high of her love and marriage to spouse Ruston Kelly, “Golden Hour” would be about finding this love and growing into herself. As part of the album artwork, Musgraves commented on the creation of her newest work and the many identities she took on to write it. “They are all characters on this record. None of them alone are me and yet they all are. The golden hour is when all the masks come together as one and you can see, in perfect light, the whole picture of me.”
Kacey Musgraves looks at life through a kaleidoscope. “Golden Hour” is soft but razor sharp. Much as the title hints the album is best listened to when the sun is setting, in the glow of a trip, when you want to cry because life can really be that beautiful— it is soft pink transitioning into blue, glitter, light passing through a prism and broken into a thousand shards.
Every song on the album is significant on its own, but Musgraves delivers a collection that is tight. “Slow Burn,” the introduction to her compilation, launches the listener into Musgraves’ universe— a song about taking things one step at a time and enjoying the ride leaves a listener salivating for what is to come. “Lonely Weekend” is surprisingly one of the most joyful moments on the album and begins Musgraves’ graceful balance between complete bliss and sorrow that she sustains throughout the album. Themes of love and heartbreak are strongly represented in songs like “Butterflies,” “Space Cowboy,” and “Wonder Woman” with Musgraves’ uncanny ability to take a single theme and stretch it into a song, without seeming contrived. “Oh, What a World” and “Happy & Sad” allow Musgraves to marvel at the beauties of life. Standout songs “Velvet Elvis” and “High Horse” provide listeners a break from Musgraves’ moody sound with synth and electric guitars and a shimmer of disco reminiscent of Dolly Parton’s take on Country music. “Golden Hour” climaxes with its titular song where Musgraves rips out her listener’s heart with her dreamy vocals and genuine songwriting. And, just for a moment, the listener believes Musgraves— “everything’s gonna be alright.” “Golden Hour” provides a sense of comfort, as if while this triumph of an album is playing, nothing could phase you. Musgraves is a cowgirl, a lover, a poet, a superhero, a sorceress.
Kacey Musgraves has found success outside of the Country-sphere with “Golden Hour” because of her un-Country approach to music. Her emphasis on songwriting and emotion is a far cry from the stadium, truck-loving sound that Country non-believers like myself have come to revile. Musgraves’ technicolor outlook, disco influences, and Priscilla Presley hair have won her an audience from the queer community as well. She appeared as a guest judge on the past season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and would even go on to crown the winners of the season on the Los Angeles stop of her Oh, What a World Tour. In the past year, she has performed on “Saturday Night Live” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and opened for Harry Styles on the North American leg of his world tour.
Musgraves’ big year was topped off at the Grammys where she took home that gold gramophone for Best Country Album, Country Song, Country Solo Performance, and most shockingly, Album of the Year. Pitted against powerhouses the likes of Drake, Cardi B, and Post Malone, Musgraves was visibly taken aback by her win— her reaction would soon be turned into a meme. She would go on to present at the Oscars a few weeks later in a striking pink tulle gown, a reminder that she is a force that demands to be recognized. She has continued her Oh, What a World Tour to allow fans to bask in her Golden Hour. She will be coming to Boston on Sept. 12.