On Friday, March 15, award-winning country singer Kacey Musgraves released her fifth studio album, Deeper Well. The album, consisting of a mix of country and electric pop tracks, takes listeners on a journey through Musgraves’ life, exploring heartbreak and moving on. With 14 heartfelt and catchy tracks, Deeper Well showcases Musgraves’ powerful and insightful lyrics, as well as the singer’s ability to blend traditional country music with newer pop tunes.
Musgraves rose to fame with her debut album, Same Trailer Different Park, establishing her country tone in the music industry. Further solidifying her position as a rising country artist with her popular album, Golden Hour, Musgraves has since released numerous singles and albums. She is the only artist to win all the possible Grammys in the country genre.
Musgraves announced her highly anticipated album with the release of single, “Deeper Well” on Thursday Feb. 8. She released second single, “Too Good to Be True” Feb. 29, before the rest of the album’s release on March 15. In an interview on the Today Show, she explained the album’s sentiment, “I found a deeper well,” refers to the deeper meaning she has found in her own life. The theme produced the album’s thesis statement, source of its title, and the refrain of its first single.
The album’s first track, “Cardinal,” sets the tone for the rest of the album with its light and upbeat guitar melodies. The lyrics “It was right after I lost a friend without warning” depict Musgraves finding personal growth and inspiration from the passing of her friend and mentor, John Prine. The lyrics in “Cardinal” juxtapose grief and loss with personal growth, with a light-hearted and catchy melody.
The album’s title track, “Deeper Well,” evokes an atmosphere of joy when overcoming change. In the first line of the song, Musgraves sings, “My saturn has returned”. The phrase “Saturn returning” refers to someone discovering who they are in the world, or finding new stages of life and happiness. Musgraves, who recently has gone through a divorce, claims her Saturn has returned and she is finding new relationships in life.
The lyrics allow Musgraves to reflect, and find her place in life. “‘Deeper Well’ is an ode to removing resistance to growth,” Musgraves said in an interview with NPR. The lyrics of “Deeper Well” explain this sentiment, as Musgraves sings, “I’ve gotten older now, I know how to take care of myself, I found a deeper well,” expressing her personal growth.
Third track, “Too Good To Be True” shines with a calm and melodic sound, accompanied by soft guitar. In this slower track, Musgraves sings about heartbreak and distrust. “Too Good To Be True” quickly became one of Musgraves’ top five songs on Spotify, due to its lyrics and original sound. The lyrics, “Be good to me, and I’ll be good to you, but please don’t be too good to be true,” vividly depict the struggles of navigating new relationships while grappling with the lingering pain of past ones.
The eleventh and most soulful track on the album, ”Lonely Millionaire,” provides calm instrumental tunes and soulful lyrics, providing a change with an R&B kick. Musgraves expresses the common saying that money can’t buy true happiness with her lilting lyrics and voice. “Lonely Millionaire” is a standout song on the album, displaying Musgraves’ talented songwriting capabilities, combined with her enchanting vocals.
Overall, Deeper Well is a breathtaking album that deserves a good listen. Musgraves turns heartbreak and growth into a musical masterpiece. Deeper Well seamlessly blends Musgraves’ storytelling skills, poignant lyrics, and unique sound, earning it four and a half out of five feathers.
