“Grateful to be alive and continuously inspired by life’s little mysteries and pleasures,” country music icon Kacey Musgraves wrote on her Instagram (@spaceykacey) account the day her new album, “Deeper Well,” was released.
Musgraves’ expression of her appreciation for life perfectly sets the tone for her new work.
“It’s a lot different than her usual stuff, but I enjoy how she is constantly reinventing herself as an artist,” sophomore philosophy and psychology double major Shea Graham said.
While numerous fans loved her new album and its aesthetic, plenty of Musgraves’ supporters were left underwhelmed.
“The new album is a little sad for me, but it was well done. I liked the vibe she had with ‘Golden Hour.’ My first thought was, ‘It’s pretty good, just not for me,’” sophomore criminal justice major Angelica Hoffman said.
In regard to the album’s aesthetic and mood, Musgraves emphasizes themes of nature and connection to Earth throughout “Deeper Well.” From images of Iceland’s green pastures and herds of sheep to idyllic shots of cloudy gray skies and coastal cliffs, the title track’s music video embodies the spirit of the album.
This naturalistic imagery is what created the calming and grounding presence that could be observed before ever listening to the music on the album.
This 14-track album contains more than simple themes of nature; it touches on spirituality, self-discovery and appreciation of life’s surroundings. All of this, set to the tune of gentle guitar strings and peaceful production, makes up the backbone of the album’s sounds.
“I really like ‘Deeper Well,’ the new single. It has such a beautiful message about finding meaning in deeper things outside of material possessions,” Graham said.
Musgraves uses symbolism and contemplative storytelling in her lyrics. The opening track, “Cardinal,” is about a connection to an omen and its meaning, with the repeated question in the chorus, “Are you bringing me a message from the other side?”
The joys of life are celebrated in many of the songs, too. “Dinner with Friends” is nostalgic ode to simple, everyday details of life.
“Heart of the Woods” focuses on human nature’s positive aspects, using nature-themed lyricism like, “It’s in our nature to look out for each other in the heart of the woods.”
Fans are split on where they think this album falls in comparison to her other work.
“I think she did a perfect job for what she was going for, but compared to ‘Same Trailer Different Park,’ I think this new one was worse overall,” Hoffman said.
However, some enjoy this new aesthetic and style, anticipating to appreciate the album fully after listening to it a few times.
“It’s definitely different. I have to listen to it more to get a better understanding of the album, honestly. I like to let albums grow on me before I make my final decision of if I like them or not,” Graham said.
This article is part of a team-up week activity that the arts and culture section of The Daily Mississippian is hosting. Each arts and culture staff writer collaborated with another writer to complete an article for this week of content.
