Her self-definition as an artist is an inescapable part of the storyline on Pageant Material; she better defines her persona than on the prior album, while dazzling us more with the surfaces and the interiors of the songs.
There’s nothing not country about every step she takes; what separates and sends Musgraves soaring higher than her peers is her writing — the storytelling on Pageant Material could fill a memoir, secondary sources and all.
There are no stomping blues-rockers here, no rockabilly or harmonica hoedowns as there were on Same Trailer; everything’s pretty low-key. Sometimes this restraint can be tantalizing in the best ways.
Same Trailer had buckets of attitude which Pageant Material inherits, but the new album is more measured, reserved and conscious of its Nashville roots while continuing to rock the lyrical boat.
Listeners with open minds are strongly recommended to give Pageant Material a try. It’s brimming with wit and wisdom, and it really should have featured on more end-of-year lists.
It misses some of Trailer's storytelling wistfulness and formal experiments — but track for track, it's stronger, an object lesson in Nashville songwriting.
The songs have a slightly ready-to-wear feel to them. Musgraves plays up her lyrical prowess to the detriment of the instrumentation, which is crisp but generic and unremarkable.
I’m mindin’ my own biscuits all right… should probably hit the gym because they’re all extremely heavy 🫠
Literally mind your own business and life will be gravy!! Love this album so so much, glad to be back in my Kacey era ❤️❤️
1 | High Time 2:56 | 89 |
2 | Dime Store Cowgirl 3:35 | 81 |
3 | Late To the Party 3:37 | 87 |
4 | Pageant Material 3:56 | 83 |
5 | This Town 2:57 | 82 |
6 | Biscuits 3:18 | 82 |
7 | Somebody To Love 3:14 | 75 |
8 | Miserable 3:00 | 78 |
9 | Die Fun 3:29 | 79 |
10 | Family Is Family 2:33 | 75 |
11 | Good Ol' Boys Club 3:17 | 71 |
12 | Cup of Tea 2:41 | 74 |
13 | Fine 3:55 | 78 |
14 | Are You Sure 3:55 Hidden Track feat. Willie Nelson | 69 |
#6 | / | TIME |
#8 | / | SPIN |
#11 | / | Cosmopolitan |
#12 | / | PopMatters |
#15 | / | Time Out New York |
#16 | / | American Songwriter |
#18 | / | Variance |
#27 | / | Paste |
#45 | / | Sputnikmusic |
#46 | / | Pretty Much Amazing |