Kacey Musgraves/ Golden Hour
PHOTOs: AP and Pattarapong Chatpattarasill
Though not the most obvious name in the US country music scene, Kacey Musgraves has done well for herself since she was discovered at the tender age of 19. Over the span of just two studio albums (minus 2016's A Very Kacey Christmas), she has won multiple accolades from several institutions including the Country Music Association Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Grammy Awards. Considering her relatively young career, this is a huge accomplishment for someone as lesser-known as Musgraves herself.
Things, however, may soon change given the recent release of her third LP Golden Hour. Helmed by The Silver Seas' Daniel Tashian, the album finds the 29-year-old Texan singer-songwriter inspired mostly by the euphoria of falling in and being in love. The music, too, gets a glistening update where, among the familiarly earnest country-pop, sit thumping disco beats, wistful folk-rock and the crafty use of voice-altering device.
Released simultaneously, the first two singles Butterflies and Space Cowboy are quintessential Musgraves. On the former, warm, jaunty melodies are paired with the painfully simple lyrics about falling in love ("And now, you're lifting me up instead of holding me down/Stealing my heart instead of stealing my crown … Now, I remember what it feels like to fly/You give me butterflies"). Blessed with a clever title, the latter captures a less cheerful narrative about an unfulfilled romance ("So you can have your space, cowboy/I ain't gonna fence you in/Go on, ride away in your Silverado/I'll see you around again").
Unfazed by the heartache, she proceeds to celebrate different types of love on tracks like the banjo-embellished Love Is A Wild Thing, Wonder Woman and Mother, a short piano ballad reportedly written when she was tripping on LSD ("Bursting with empathy, I'm feeling everything/The weight of the world on my shoulders … It's the music in me and all of the colors").
Elsewhere, we get a glimpse into the more experimental side of Musgraves. The Vocoder-assisted Oh, What A World is what you would get if you were to combine country with Daft Punk. It's indeed a strange hybrid, but the result is less than jarring as it might seem on paper. The crossover also pays off handsomely on High Horse, an infectious disco-house anthem that recalls the danciness of Kylie Minogue (who, ironically, is going "country" on her forthcoming album) and the widescreen-pop of Katy Perry.
The success of Golden Hour lies in Musgraves' ability to seamlessly incorporate subtle dance touches to her trusty country-pop sound. Further helped by her sharp songwriting, which ranges from simplistic to whip-smart, the record offers a complete, well-rounded listening experience one doesn't often find in most country albums. She might not be an obvious name in country, but she's well on her way to pop domination.
THE PLAYLIST
BNK48/ Shonichi
After having garnered a massive hype and a loyal following, rising Thai idol girl-group BNK48 now unveils their latest cut Shonichi, the third single following Aitakatta -- Yak Cha Dai Phop Thoe and smash hit Koi Suru Fortune Cookie -- Khukki Siangthai. Like their previous offerings, the track is based off of the original song by the band's Japanese counterpart AKB48. Shonichi, translated into Thai as wan raek (first day), is an upbeat J-pop jam that pairs effervescent melody with innocuous lyrics about the toil and struggle of being in an idol girl-group ("Dreams born out of sweat and tears … Dance and sing like your life depends on it/It's your passion/Don't you forget it").
Kylie Minogue/ Raining Glitter
As it turns out, Kylie Minogue's first two singles Dancing and Stop Me From Falling were not just her going through a country phase. Its follow-up Raining Glitter further attests to the fact that she's really gone down the dirt -- albeit sprinkled with a good amount of glitter -- road on her just-released 14th studio album Golden. "Raining glitter down on us tonight/Covering us all in magic/Never ever seen them stars so bright," she coos atop galloping, disco-tinted production. "No more hiding in the shadows/Ooh, you look like diamonds in the light."
Amber Mark/ Lose My Cool
From her humble start as a Soundcloud artist, New York-based Amber Mark has evolved into one of the most promising new artists whom we're truly excited about. Taken from her 3.33am EP, Lose My Cool begins with simple piano chords and finger snaps before blooming into a tropical house production punctuated by what sounds like a man chanting in the background. "Feeling it like I just need to speak my brain/Yes I know it might seem like I'm going to cause you pain," she soulfully intones. "Boy you got to realise/I've got to get all this crazy/I've got to lose my cool."
Snail Mail/ Pristine
This week's indie-rock quota goes to Snail Mail, a solo project by classically trained guitarist and singer-songwriter Lindsey Jordan. Here, she's shared with us the lead single taken from her debut full-length Lush. Set to grungey guitars, Pristine finds Jordan navigating through the insecurities of unrequited love: "Don't you like me for me?/Is there any better feeling than coming clean?/I know myself and I'll never love anyone else." It's a bittersweet indie anthem that strikes just the right balance between grit and emotion.
Lady Gaga/ Your Song
Revamp: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin has just dropped and already its first single, Your Song, is making quite an impact. Rendered here by none other than vocal powerhouse/pianist Lady Gaga, the cover version is not so much of a revamp as a faithful interpretation of the 1970 classic. Featuring some of pop's biggest names including Coldplay and Ed Sheeran, the album is released alongside its country-leaning counterpart, Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
