Brain Loves new album ‘Pageant Material’ from Kacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves' album 'Same Trailer Different Park' was my favorite albums of 2013. It remains one of my go to albums to this day. Today I get to add her new effort 'Pageant Material' to that list. The new album from Musgraves features the same sound, the same feel and the same fantastic song writing that makes her such a breath of fresh air in a sometimes stale musical format.

When asked to describe her new album, Musgraves recently said "It's country as s$&t." And it is. Plenty of fiddle, steel guitar and lush orchestration make it the farthest thing from bro country you'll hear. But the song writing and the album's themes are anything but old fashioned. Musgraves sings about real life. Relationships, loneliness, making it big, getting too big for your britches and being afraid of failing. The lead single 'Biscuits' reminds us to "mind our own biscuits and life will be gravy." Some of the lyrics may seem simplistic and cheesy at times, but Musgraves' wholesome and honest delivery make you nod and believe every word.

Musgraves is a trail blazer. Her song 'Follow Your Arrow' told us "kiss lots of girls if that's what you're into," and it won single of the year. She isn't afraid to speak her mind and put out music that doesn't fit the current country mold. You might not hear much of this album on today's country radio, and that's a shame, because this album deserves to be heard. 'Pageant Material' is one of the best albums, country or otherwise, of the year. Dive in today, and you won't be disappointed.