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Kacey Musgraves’ “Middle of Nowhere” Leans Back Into Country, Draws a Lukewarm Review

An A.V. Club critic calls the feature-heavy album polished, less inventive than her peak.

Overview

  • The review says the album takes a clearer turn to twang under longtime collaborators Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk, whose glossy production keeps the sound sleek.
  • Two Texas cameos stand out, with Miranda Lambert joining “Horses & Divorces” and Willie Nelson appearing on “Uncertain, TX.”
  • Other features register as lighter touches, with Gregory Alan Isakov confined to background vocals and Billy Strings contributing parts the critic found minor.
  • The critic argues several pop-leaning tracks feel familiar and less gripping, and the set does not reach the bar of Golden Hour or her early albums.
  • Instrumental colors earn praise, including pedal steel by Dan Dugmore and Paul Franklin, Rob Burger’s accordion, Tashian’s banjo, and cheeky wordplay on the single “Dry Spell.”