Review: ‘Golden Hour’ by Kacey Musgraves

Golden Hour cover photo courtesy of MCA NASHVILLE

Kacey Musgraves released her latest, and fourth, album Golden Hour on March 30.

This album is a bit more serious than her previous albums and features more love songs than witty narratives. It is a significant shift from her previous albums in terms of sound as well – blending country-pop with disco and electronic influences.

No matter which way you slice it, there’s nothing not country about Kacey and her music, and what separates her from other country artists, both past and present, is her writing and storytelling.

Still from the official audio video for the title track Golden Hour

For example, Kacy made a big impact with her major label debut album Same Trailer Different Park, which is comprised of songs with lyrics questioning religion and small town life; extolling the pleasures of marijuana; of how you can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl; and embracing the LGTBQ community (where she was the first LGTB-friendly CMA winner for Song of the Year for her song “Follow Your Arrow“).

Her song writing is so witty, and so true. You can’t help but smile and fall in love with her songs. She sings about life as she sees it, which happens to be on a relatable level for many, whether you’re from the trailer park, country, small town, or big city.

On Golden Hour:

“I have a lot more love songs this time around, and I’ve never been one to write a love song and really feel it. That probably sounds like the most depressing thing ever. [But] I’m coming off getting married and being in this golden hour of my personal life, where all these things are finally coming to fruition. I found myself inspired to write about this person and all these things he brought out in me that weren’t there before.”

Kacey Musgraves and Ruston Kelly wedding, October 2017. Photo by Natalie Barrett/NBarrett Photography.

Golden Hour is a gorgeous album that, to me, expresses Kacey’s true and limitless talent. My favourite songs on the album are:
Slow Burn
Lonely Weekend
Oh, What A World
Mother
Love Is A Wild Thing
Velvet Elvis
High Horse
Golden Hour

It is definitely an excellent album for listening and singing along to in the car – I can see it being a staple for me and a big part of my Summer 2018 playlist!

If you haven’t already, I highly recommend you check out Golden Hour – even if you don’t particularly enjoy country, I know you will find something in Kacey’s music because, as it’s been rumoured, her music is “country for those who don’t like country.” If that’s you… let me know what you think!