On paper, Kacey Musgraves' career seems like it was over before it even began. She's a cute, witty, and musically gifted twenty-something who hails from Texas and worked the Country circuit before playing in the big leagues of mainstream Country (don't we already have a Miranda Lambert?). Her voice is sweet and young, but it's not necessarily distinctive, nor does it have a tangible thickness to it. Musically, "Same Trailer Different Park" is all gentle, mid-tempo cuts, never any honky-tonkers or slow, placid ballads. Individually, each of its 12 tracks go down easy, but when taken together, the album falls apart. Listening to the same hushed acoustics, plain Jane voices, and light drum beats for 40 minutes can be quite exhausting. Even more, the album can almost seem like double its length --country albums have that tendency-- but there are no true slow songs here, so there is no reason why "Same Trailer Different Park" should seem much longer than it is.
But the lyrics. Kacey Musgraves' skillful use of them sets her major label debut well among her peers. She is a fine and sharp writer, even more than Miranda or Taylor Swift, and since she also took up a job as a producer, she is able to blend her words to create subtle hooks. She is also adept at balancing rhythm and melody, so she can hum right along about bringing her house to her lover ("My House"), about how everyone's hooked on Mary ("Merry Go Round"), and how if you don't save yourself for marriage you're a "horr...ible person" ("Follow Your Arrow"). That's a hard thing to achieve for any artist, but it's particularly impressive coming from an singer who's only 24 years old. Then again, it's not like Kacey has been dead silent in her quest for a major record deal. Looking into her history: she's penned songs for Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride and Gretchen Wilson, she's released three albums independently since 2007, and she's even landed guest spots for other country artists (the Josh Abbott Band in particular). She's had plenty of practice in songwriting and producing, so it should come as no surprise that "Same Trailer Different Park" never-the-less works. True, it can be staid and boring four songs in, but each song retains a certain charm, and can keep you in their orbit. Ultimately, this sturdy and melodic debut is something of a rarity in 2013. Kacey Musgraves is neither hip or square, she tells it like it is without ever being dramatic, and she's very interesting. Not once does "Same Trailer Different Park" sink to breezy country-pop or loud, garish country-rock, it's simply layered and articulate. Kacey Musgraves may not have a big profile like Miranda or Taylor, but judging by this debut (and this does count as a debut), she may have a more interesting career.
Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. Silver Lining 2. My House 3. Merry Go Round
4. Dandelion 5. Blowin' Smoke 6. I Miss You
7. Step Off 8. Back on the Map 9. Keep It to Yourself
10. Stupid 11. Follow Your Arrow 12. It is What It Is
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