About this episode
Nate and Charlie explore Kacey Musgraves' album 'Middle of Nowhere' and its reflection on the evolution of country music.
Kacey Musgraves' album Middle of Nowhere finds the country outlaw taking a break from exploring her inner life to look outward, back to her roots: the regional stylings of Texas. She says the album was inspired by a sign in her hometown that read “Golden, TX: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere.” The album’s sounds probe this same borderland mentality, encapsulating desert noir, Norteño, tejano, and soft rock. Plus, Willie Nelson. The result is a collection of songs that are funny, moving, and reaching back to the sound Musgraves established in her debut record 13 years ago. But the world of country has changed since then – artists like Ella Langley have taken over the charts, cribbing Musgraves' sound while courting a more conservative audience. Can the genre encompass all these multitudes? Nate and Charlie explore this debate through Middle of Nowhere. Links: Newsletter, YouTube Songs discussed: Kacey Musgraves – I Miss You Kacey Musgraves – Merry Go 'Round Kacey Musgraves – High Horse Kacey Musgraves – justified Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well Kacey Musgraves – Dry Spell Kacey Musgraves, Billy Strings – Everybody Wants To Be A Cowboy Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson –…
People in this episode
Hosts: Nate, Charlie
Guest: Kacey Musgraves
Topics covered
- Kacey Musgraves
- country music
- album analysis
- musical influences
- genre evolution
- Texas roots
Keywords
- Kacey Musgraves
- Middle of Nowhere
- country music
- Texas
- Willie Nelson
- Ella Langley
- album review
- genre debate
- musical influences
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Middle of Nowhere, Mama's Broken Heart, Before The Next Teardrop Falls, Harvest Moon, Horses and Divorces, Rhinestoned, I Miss You, Merry Go 'Round, High Horse, justified
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