Kacey Musgraves Makes Me Giddy Up And I’m Not Complaining About It

Kacey Musgraves Makes Me Giddy Up And I’m Not Complaining About It

Elyssa Dalaker, Web Staffer

I’ll be the first to admit it: I hate country music. For some people, it’s a lifestyle, and props to them for enjoying it. Personally, there’s only so many lyrics about pickup trucks and drinking beer at sunset that I can listen to before my ears are ready to implode. I’ve always considered myself an enemy of the genre, allergic to anything that sounds even vaguely like a banjo. But if it’s Kacey Musgraves on the aux, well, yeehaw.

My first exposure to Kacey Musgraves was forced upon me earlier this summer, when I attended Harry Styles: Live On Tour at New York City’s infamous Madison Square Garden. Although I was beyond excited for the show, my joy was seriously dampened when I discovered that an up-and-coming artist dubbed by country singer Josh Abbott as “the female savior of country music” was opening the show. Why was Harry Styles, infamous for breaking with One Direction’s teen-pop sound to create solo music reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac and the Rolling Stones, touring with a country artist? I mean, the girl even has her own line of cowboy boots. No, thank you. I was prepared to skip her set entirely, but as I sit here 4 months later with “Velvet Elvis” pulsing through my Beats, I can say that I’m really glad I showed up early.

I would classify Musgraves not as a country artist, but as an ethereal, synth-pop princess. There’s a distinctly Texas twang to her voice, sure, but don’t let Wikipedia’s classification of her music dissuade you from giving her a listen. Something unabashedly different about her sound keeps you hooked, setting her apart from all of the Luke Bryans of the world and transcending somewhere on the level of Stevie Nicks or Janis Joplin. Her songs are a blend of disco, alternative, and bluesy melodies, all crooned in a rich, high tenor. It’s refreshing and uplifting– the kind of “feel good” music we all need from time to time.  I dare you to listen to “Butterflies” without cracking a smile, or keep your head from bobbing along while “High Horse” is playing.

2018’s Golden Hour delves even deeper into the dreamy world Musgraves has created for herself and her fans. The upcoming 29-date “oh what a world” tour (which is stopping at The Anthem on January 24th!) promises to be just as magical.

Listening to Kacey Musgraves gives you the impression that you’ve stumbled upon something otherworldly. Musgraves herself refers to her music as “galactic country.” And not to worry, college hipsters: she’s a pretty cool gal. I mean, come on– she spoke pretty openly with Rolling Stone about writing Golden Hour’s psychedelic ballad “Mother” while on LSD.

If you want to be a part of the rising disco-country revolution I now consider myself a proud member of, you can stream Kacey Musgraves’ new album Golden Hour HERE:

And while you’re at it, check out my monthly recommendations playlist HERE:

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