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· Conor Welsch
Credit: MCA Nashville Records
Kacey Musgraves has always been a songwriter who thrives on subtlety. From the sharp wit of Same Trailer Different Park to the cosmic warmth of Golden Hour, her music has been a slow-burning meditation on life’s joys and disappointments. Deeper Well continues this trajectory, stripping back even further to reveal an album of gentle introspection, sonic warmth, and poetic grace.
While Golden Hour introduced ethereal synths and Star-Crossed leaned into moody pop drama, Deeper Well returns to the organic textures of folk and classic country storytelling. Produced by longtime collaborator Daniel Tashian, the album is built on delicate acoustic arrangements, atmospheric pedal steel, and whisper-soft harmonies that feel like a quiet conversation with an old friend.
Songs like Cardinal and The Architect float effortlessly, relying on minimalist instrumentation to let Musgraves’ voice and lyrical depth shine. The title track, Deeper Well, carries a warm, almost lullaby-like quality - its message of renewal and self-discovery feels deeply personal yet universally resonant.
Musgraves has always excelled at making complex emotions sound effortless. Here, she trades the sharp social commentary of her early albums for gentle self-examination, touching on themes of growth, loss, and finding peace in imperfection.
Moving Out captures the bittersweet liberation of leaving behind an old life, while Dinner with Friends feels like a quiet ode to simple joys and the passage of time. There’s no grand catharsis in Deeper Well, just a sense of acceptance and quiet strength, making it perhaps her most emotionally mature work yet.
If Golden Hour was Musgraves’ genre-blurring breakthrough, Deeper Well is her return to roots without feeling like a retreat. She leans into folk’s rich storytelling traditions, reminiscent of Joni Mitchell’s Blue or the Laurel Canyon movement of the 70s, but still retains her modern, airy production aesthetic.
Standout tracks like Sway introduce subtle, percussive elements that give the album an almost hypnotic rhythm, while Nothing to Be Scared Of offers one of her most openhearted vocal performances to date. The album’s sonic landscape never overwhelms - every note is intentional, every harmony placed for emotional weight rather than excess.
Deeper Well is a natural evolution for Kacey Musgraves, a record that trades spectacle for sincerity. It doesn’t demand attention - it invites you in, allowing the listener to sit with its themes of change, contentment, and self-discovery. Some may find it too understated compared to her more sonically adventurous past work, but its quiet power is undeniable.
Best Tracks: Deeper Well, Moving Out, Nothing to Be Scared Of
For Fans Of: Joni Mitchell’s Blue, Brandi Carlile’s In These Silent Days, First Aid Kit’s Ruins*