Reviews (page 2 of 8)
I remember a bit of a fuss going around when this came out, but I never checked it out as it didn't seem like my thing, but I guess now it's been forced upon me. And oh man it's exactly what I dreaded, completely boring country-pop with nothing interesting or captivating about it. What on earth convinced them that this needed to be on the list, 1000s of albums that sound exactly like this have been made for decades now. Her vocals are fine, but there's only so long I can listen to the basic lyrics, basic playing, basic song structure over and over. Made 45 minutes feel like a few hours.
Exceeds in being soulless, gotta say I'm impressed. I felt like I'm walking around a shopping mall. It dragged since track 2. One of the biggest jokes of the list.
The first song is fine, nothing special but fine. Then it goes rapidly downhill and becomes twee.
I was so glad when it was over
I just really don’t vibe with this type of country music. All the songs sounded the same and the “my grandma cried when I pierced my nose” lyric was cringey af.
1 This list has helped me develop some respect and appreciation for country music, a genre I’ve never been the biggest fan of, but modern country pop stuff like this… yeah still not a fan. I can acknowledge this isn’t an outright bad album in quality, but it also does nothing for me. I wish she had leaned more in either the pop or country direction instead of straddling the line of both, as the result comes off sounding like formulaic sounding radio fodder without much of its own identity, or at best, a second-rate Taylor Swift album. All in all, it’s not incredibly versatile in vocal or musical performance, making it all feel very one-note. If you don’t enjoy the first song, you’re not going to enjoy the rest. Can’t imagine a scenario where I’d willingly listen to this one again.
What an annoying album. Everything about it was just not good. Skip it
This was just an album full of cheesy, uninspiring music. Bored the hell out of me.
this added exactly nothing to my life
And the bells were ringing out with piss poor singer songwriter pop
What the fuck, Santa? Not what I asked for
Fuck you the List, what a way to ruin Christmas you fucking grinch.
Taylor Swift pero en malo
Oh, awesome, modern pop country, my ffffaaaavvoooorrriiittteee. I'd first like to say I'm under the belief lyrics, while important to a song, are usually a backseat compared to the instrumentation, otherwise it would just be poetry. That being said, the lyrics in this are awful. When they're not cheesy they're just bad. "In Tennessee, the sun's goin' down, but in Bejing, they're headin' out to work", what the fuck does that mean? What does that have to do with this love song? Yeah, timezones exist, good job Kacey. It doesn't even rhyme within the song, which I would excuse as an artistic choice, except the very next two lines rhyme with each other, so obviously it wasn't that. There's other examples all throughout the album, but when your first song has a lyric that makes me burst out laughing, you probably don't have the keen-est sense of writing, and there's probably a reason most pop singers don't write their own music anymore. Another thing is the actual choice of genre itself. It's pop country with light sprinklings of more electronic-esque genres, but that isn't used in any interesting capacity, they just usually are either a light backing track that aren't notable enough to talk about, or start the song, hoping one of these songs will actually sound different, before switching back to pop country about five seconds later. This pop country is also aggravating. It's the worst of country, never really committing to the genre, which is fine by me because modern country is pretty awful in my mind, but I agree this is more pop music than anything. Bad pop music, that is, because none of this has the goal of pop music, which is to be catchy, and I don't remember these songs two seconds after they end. How do you make a song called "Space Cowboy" boring? Or "Velvet Elvis"? There's just really nothing here I enjoy whatsoever, and the amount of modern pop albums I could understand being on here compared to this makes this even worse. Is it as bad as a male lead vocal modern country song? No, it isn't about trucks and beer, it can attempt something more interesting, it just doesn't stick the landing whatsoever.
Cheesey lyrics. Couldn't finish.
Even een korte bloemlezing uit het poëziealbum van Kacey Musgraves, waar ze rijkelijk uit putte toen ze teksten nodig had voor haar 'echte liedjes'-album: Texas is hot, I can be cold Grandma cried when I pierced my nose. In Tennessee, the sun's goin' down But in Beijing, they're headin' out to work --> het concept tijdzones heeft ze onder de knie👌 I got a million things to do, but I haven't done a single one, no And if my sister lived in town, I know that we'd be doin' somethin' fun Something fun? Zoals goede liedjes met goede teksten schrijven?
Feels generic, cheesy lyrics, nothing memorable about this album
Bland modern country pop with terrible teenage diary lyrics. GIve me old dirty outlaw country over this saccarhine shit anytime. Probably great if you're 13 years old and fancy Cletus. Best Tracks: Slow Burn; Butterflies; Velvet Elvis
Scroll back through my reviews and you will see that I really try hard to say something positive about albums, even if they aren't for me. But this album actually made me angry listening to it. Country and pop are two genres where you have to be an exceptional talent to pull them off, and more often than not that is achieved by Adding some kind of twist, or flair or just by being an incredible songwriter. This has none of those redeeming qualities. 45 minutes of meaningless drivel. Low point: Oh, what a world, for a song that I guess is meant to be abut how good life can be why it uses the most plain, devoid of emotion vocoder loop that I've ever heard. Kacey, go listen to some Bon Iver and see how its done properly.
I don't have much of an affinity for Country music and this album didn't change that.
No thanks. It’s one of those specialty cocktails that’s all syrup and grenadine and you can’t even taste the tequila. You doubt they even put tequila in it because it’s so sugary. But they charged you like it was given a proper 1.5oz from the top shelf. Pop country only appeals to the lowest common denominator of people. I can’t imagine what there is in this album content wise that merits our attention. Again I have to harken back to Weezer. Why the fuck is the Blue Album NOT on the list but this is?!?! I’m rating this a one, admittedly maybe too harshly, but I’m just so stymied by some of the list maker choices.
Boring country pop with lazy lyrics.
Aimless musical meandering with only somewhat noteworthy production.
Too much time rolling around in the satin sheet production, not enough time on the writing. When they aren't outright clunkers, they're pap. And when when they're not pap, the drippy aesthetic makes them sound like it.
Nice voice. Pretty vanilla country pop stuff.
She has a nice voice but the lyrics are brutal. And it all sounds exactly the same.
this was very 2000s singer-songwriter, but with meh lyrics and boring instrumentals. very disappointing
Flummoxed how this won a Grammy for Album of the Year. What am I missing?
“A country pop record, Golden Hour also contains elements of disco, electropop, electronica, and yacht rock.” Ugh.
No entiendo por qué está este disco en esta lista. Es completamente insustancial.
It was ok, didnt grab me
Not this album making me cry at work on a Tuesday morning
I'm not a country fan but Kacey Musgraves makes me wish I was. She has a stunning voice, heart-wrenching songs, and is an exceptional lyricist. If all country singers were this good, I would not have any trouble getting into the genre.
i bought this the day it came out
Absolute banger. One of my personal favorites. Some incredible song writing.
This is a pleasant surprise. I lived through the Bro Country era and wondered if we'd see good modern country. Somehow this album completely passed me by, probably cuz I was jaded. But this is excellent. A few songs are unconventionally country but it's got some great music ideas and beautiful lyrics and singing. Give it a listen.
Wonderful album. Creative, funny, touching writing and catchy hooks throughout.
Never listened much to Kacey Musgraves. I’m glad I fixed that now. It’s a really beautiful album. It’s all so well composed and wonderfully performed. My only complaint is that the subject matter is too focused on romantic things. It does occasionally go into other topics and when it does it’s excellent. Not that the romance songs are bad by any stretch. Rainbows is gorgeous.
A very cute listen. I enjoyed this the entire way through.
Great album. Obviously, high horse and slow burn are highlights, but the whole album is full of consistently good tracks.
Beautiful soundscape. I like Same Trailer Different Park better but there's no bad time to listen to KM's voice.
The tone of her voice and the laid back vibe just hits my sweet spot
slow burn is elite sunny day album
Very good album had me listening to women country singers all day. It gets an extra bump up for vibes and how cool I seemed with my daughter.
Väldigt otippat album på den här listan, men kan inte tänka mig att modern countrypop kan låta bättre än såhär. Riktigt välgjort!
No skips
A generational album
Really enjoyable album. Pop-country that leans a little more toward pop. Standouts are Slow Burn, Butterflies, Space Cowboy, and Rainbow. In fact, Rainbow is one of a very few songs that can get me emotional just listening to it, and I suspect it will get more recognition over time as an all-time great ballad.
CHANGED MY LIFE!! I’m not kidding! Kacey’s voice is so magical and captivating! GOATED
slow burn and rainbow are two of my favorite songs of all time. Kacey has such a beautiful voice. album is beautiful ❤️
Good choice, a great discover
I wish we lived in a world where everyone were gentle enough that they could feel the simple sweetness, the beautiful warmth, that is harnessed here.
Already loved this whole album, ready to listen to it again
Hair metal never topped this peak.
So happy to see her on this list. Great word rhyming patterns, and she is able to sing more about complex things instead of a “cheating man” concept that most female country singers bring. Lyrically has been one of my favorite country singers and always enjoy her stuff.
Her voice is as gorgeous as she is.
This is one of my all-time favourite albums, so I shouldn't have read the reviews on here. Oh well, more Kacey for me! The perfect intersection of pop and country, this is beautiful and fun with not a single skippable track. 5 stars always.
Country music has always been a blind spot for me. At times there's been an artist or album that has gotten enough press that I've listened, and in some cases (Jason Isbell to name one) they've become favorites of mine. But mostly I have shied away from the genre. I was excited to listen to this today as I've been aware of the praise for her and for this record specifically. From the beginning of the first song Slow Burn I was hooked. I loved it musically and lyrically, and her singing was perfect for the song. As each song came on I was feeling the same way. I was smiling and realizing this was already falling into the category of not just a five star album, but one I might just completely love and want to listen to again and again. There was a country feel to all of it, but not in the overly twangy way that is my typical turn off. There's mixes of other genres, but none of it takes away from it being at heart a country album. There are too many highlights to name, as I don't think there is a single song that doesn't stand out in one way or another. Once again I got that feeling of gladness that I'm doing this project. The rest of my day (and probably week at least) is going to be a deeper dive into her music.
This is a masterclass fusion of pop, country, and witty singer-songwriter music. It’s an album you can put on at the beach, on a road trip, or on a rainy Sunday morning. Kasey’s vocals are fantastic throughout and are equaled by her songwriting. Slow Burn is a damn near perfect song, and immediately sets the tone and announces that this is no ordinary country album. Other than Kacey’s twang, I’m not sure it’s much of a country album at all. She takes the blueprint of Taylor Swift’s country music exit and perfects the formula. Lonely Weekend is a prime example, along with the fantastic title track. A masterpiece.
I fell in love with a girl while "Butterflies" was playing in the car. I remember sitting in the backseat with her, butterflies filling my stomach as I worked up the courage to take her hand in mine. And I remember how I felt as we smiled at each other, in the way that only new lovers smile at each other. So, to anyone rating this album less than a 5, I ask: Have you ever fallen in love? She broke my heart lol
I already loved Kacey Musgraves, but this album just made me love her even more. Everything about this was great and I listened to it twice. The blend of country and electronic pop is so perfect, and with her angelic voice, clever/heartfelt lyrics and excellent recording/production, it was just perfect. Five stars.
Roughly four years ago, I considered myself a country hater. I wouldn't have even entertained the idea of listening to this album. I'm very lucky that I married a person with great music taste (even if it leans very country), and she introduced me to this album a couple years ago. To call this album purely country is kind of disrespectful to all of the things Kacey Musgraves and her co-producers did with this album to fill it full of elements of so many different genres and styles. All of that paired with Kacey's really beautiful, soft, and gentle voice makes this a really wonderful album to listen to. I have such a hard time picking out a favorite song from this album. There's one or two that are kind of "low points" in the album, but they're still pretty good songs, just not up to the same level as others. As much as I love this album, I wasn't expecting to give it a 5, but here we are. Favorite Song(s): Slow Burn, Butterflies, Space Cowboy, High Horse, Rainbow
Nice change of pace to listen to something from an artist of my era. I enjoyed this one and will likely listen to it again, Kacey Musgraves has a great voice! Standout track for me is "Slow Burn" though the entire album is a solid cohesive body of work. 5/5 stars.
I LOVE HER. I lover her timbre, her lyrics, her melodies.
In this lightly twanged country-pop music, the music is simple but the setting is thick. It's deceiving. I listened twice through. At first, it was pleasant enough to catch my deeper attention. Then I started noticing little details. Flowing Pop Mercury, this album delivers it's point plainly with a sea of subtle intelligence that shows an uncommon power of the team working behind the record. In modern fashion, musical motifs switch between country-coded banjo-laden stomping, to "is this Balearic?" mid-tempo tom-drum-fill propulsion. The songwriting captures a just-post-naive femininity that gives Kasey's self-portrayal in "Golden Hour" enough innocence to make marveling at butterflies normal, while being self assured enough to draw lines around who she is and what she will no longer accept. A country sunset is beautiful and singular thing but it casts a lot of complex shadows. Kasey shows us the detail and beauty in those shadows without forgetting it's the sunset that brings them. The song writing is my favorite thing here. There's a hidden language of imagery packed into this album. It's simple-seeming, but each song unloads something from a small bag of tricks that the album carries. "Slow Burn"'s chorus is built around Kasey's voice, the titular two words get to breath, as if a candle flame consuming the oxygen of her breathy delivery. It flickers, rises, falls, and fades. "Space Cowboy" gets a fun little play: "I'll give you your space... Cowboy." It's dumb but not too dumb. "High Horse", similarly, rests on word play and delivers with excellent timing. I laughed out loud when I predicted the line that delivered one of the songs best dumb punchlines. I'll actually leave it to the listener/reader to find this one. You'll know it when you hear it. The vocal lift on "Butterflies" jumps up like taking aloft. These little details drew me in to the album in a way I didn't expect to be taken. This isn't music I'm "supposed" to like. I'm glad it's on the list. It is solid, modern, emotional, and full of musical skill. I feel a bunch of righteous cynicism to modern pop and country music for not being true to intention. The genres are full of corny decisions barely hidden from their aims of selling a record and making some money. "Golden Hour", while still a product of its industry, holds a candle for crafty songwriting that conveys emotion. It also teeters just on the syrupy edge of being "too nice so that everyone should like you" without falling in the honey.
Love this album… no skips. Whenever I talk about a top albums, this one comes up. Full 5/5.
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
Love the album. So cohesive and unique
Love love the production. It’s so clean and clear in a way that supports her voice perfectly. She, like Dolly, reminded me what’s great about country. Unpretentiously relatable life issues. My only complaint is that some songs get a little same-sy. Highlight for me: Slow Burn, Mother, Space Cowboy, Wonder Woman.
Wow! Excellent!
This album is Spacey Kacey perfection. I relate to her so much on many different levels. This is definitely an album I could listen to many times and never skip a song. Also, props for finally getting a female singer from the list.
I listened to this album a lot when I was living alone during lockdown, which could be why Rainbow still gets me a bit misty eyed. I think I needed someone to tell me it would all be alright, and Kacey Musgraves was as good as anyone. But I also think this is just a lovely, well-crafted country album that weaves in its indie and even disco influences in a subtle, skilful way.
I absolutely loved this one. Really personal but relatable songs.
I love Kacey musgraves. I listened to space cowboy a lot senior year of high school. Also she sounds so good live too.
Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5 Short Review: Warm, floaty, cosmic country-pop perfection. It’s the sound of a heart opening like a window. Kacey blends sincerity with psychedelic sparkle — steel guitars wrapped in stardust. It’s romantic without being corny, dreamy without being dumb, and so effortlessly pretty it feels illegal. This is the rare album that glows. Favorite Track: “Slow Burn” — a whole manifesto disguised as a whisper. If patience had a heartbeat, this would be it.
Made my top 20 for 2018, a perfect record for a summery walk with the dog. I love this.
Country pop at its best
A nice surprise when you don't even know the existence of this album! A country pop record, Golden Hour also contains elements of disco, electropop, electronica, and yacht rock.And it is so good from start to finish,great album! Slow Burn is so beautiful,crystal clear divine vocals,amazing lyrics and everything else! Lonely Weekend has blissful,nostalgic melodies and pop stucture,really nice vibe, Butterflies is a great song,happy pop times, Oh,What A World got me from the beginning with the vocoder intro,celestial atmosphere,banjo involved beautifully,just magical, Space Cowboy has -as in all songs- strong lyrics,slightly detuned synth at times and a pop country balad structure, Mother is a heavy piano piece,more like a passage, Love is A Wild Thing,is a country pop song with great acoustic guitar and bass,the banjo played as an arp at times is just heaven,nostalgic synth sounds turns this into a masterpiece, Poppish Happy & Sad is my least favourite but still is very good especially towards the end, Velvet Elvis is super powerful and creative with electronica elements,one of my favourites if not the whole album! Wonder Woman has incredible lyrics and as a song is a bliss to my ears, Disco-infected High Horse is absolutely fantastic,it's amazing how she blends it all and it is really working,wow,my head was up and down the whole time especially at the end where banjo involves, Golden Hour,an another love song that has so beautiful lyrics that generates landscapes in your mind, Rainbow is a heavy piano balad,perfect for the end and perfect for her voice range,with a hopeful message. Wow that's an almost perfect album with all songs great and i didn't even know it. Easy 5/5 and more!
I really enjoyed this one, especially considering how commercial and polished it is. While it’s clearly rooted in country pop, I’d still take this over Taylor Swift any day of the week. What makes this album stand out is its seamless genre blending. You get the foundation of contemporary country, but it’s layered with dream pop textures, soft disco grooves, and subtle electronic flourishes that give it an indie pop spirit. For instrumentation you get acoustic guitars and pedal steel mixed with analog synths, ambient pads, and electric piano lines. The result is airy that feels both intimate and expansive. It’s a great example of how mainstream pop country can evolve without losing its emotional core.
This is about as country as I like my country to be. I think this is excellent, strong songwriting and vocals. I could listen to this all day. Another solid new to me album from the generator. Dig it.
Syrupy singer. Some good songs
Beautiful! One of my favs :D
Just an absolute gem
Love me this Texas gurl!
love her till the day i die
When I say “yee”, you say “haw” Love it. I remember when I heard that some country album got Grammy for “record of the year” and “country record of the year”. I was a little confused. But it was not for long. Listening to it quickly absorbed my confusion and skepticism. Haaaw
I'm very fond of Kacey Musgraves and this is some of her best work. I think I've listened to Slow Burn at least once a week since 2018. It's so dreamy and hypnotic and actually a great thesis for the rest of the album. But every song here is very well written and enjoyable. Even songs like Butterflies or Rainbow, which could easily be skips for me by any other artist - they could be too saccharine or overly embellished with belting and vocal flourishes - are frequent repeats in my house. I love the quality of her voice and the relaxed way she sings. The production on this album complements her perfectly. I was going to list my favorite songs but I might have an easier time choosing all of them and then trying to rank them. After Slow Burn, number two is Oh, What A World and number three is Happy & Sad. Number four is Space Cowboy. Five stars for Golden Hour as a whole. I also highly recommend her latest, Deeper Well. A lot of those songs scratch the same itch as Slow Burn for me.
Beautiful! Especially love the Rainbow song.
Soft 5. It's well put together and an overall good vibe. Nothing too stand-outish, but still some nice instrumentals and vocal work. 'Slow Burn' was my fave.
An album that I’ve loved since it was released. Somehow better with age. Great tunes too to bottom.
And I think we've seen enough, seen enough To know that you ain't ever gonna come down So why don't you giddy up, giddy up And ride straight out of this town You and your high horse Mm, mm You and your high horse Mm, mm
Love this and her
So dreamy and delightful. Kacey’s vocals are so clear and piercing, she has such a pretty tone. Some lovely melodies. The lyrics tell a compelling story.
Kann Musik einfach nur schön sein? Ohne Ecken und Kanten? Ohne Gebrülle, Gequietsche und Gestottere? Klar, geht das!
A fantastic record
Can listen to this on repeat. My favorite of her albums. Especially love Slow Burn, Butterflies, and Rainbow. The kids like it too!
I have enjoyed Kasey's songs for a while now. First time listening to a whole album and I loved it. Plus I got to watch the Sounders win last night so I am feeling extra generous. Five stars!
Wat een heerlijk album! Licht en easy listening terwijl Kacey' stem heerlijk is en de liedjes ook best wel wat diepgang hebben.
Peace and love on planet earth! The world is beautiful!
Ok wow, I loved this wayyyy more than I expected. Despite having never listened to her music before, I have still always appreciated Kacey Musgraves for being a modern country artist who isn't super right wing, which is worryingly rare. And on top of that, these songs are genuinely so beautiful and heartfelt, paired with the mindblowingly good production and you have yourself a brilliant album.
A strong contender for my favorite country album (which is admittedly a small pool) - I love that almost every song contains a moment that genuinely surprised me when I first heard it.
Going into this album, I didn't expect to have much to say. Like, sure, it won Album Of The Year at the 61st GRAMMYs, but come on: it's a country album. I never usually have much to say about those, since I never have very high expectations for them. "Country music is just country music," is what I've always thought: "there's just never much difference from album to album." I figured I'd rattle off the same sort of spiel I've given to other country albums and I'd be able to just move on — right? Well... Here's the funny thing. Finishing off this album, I still didn't feel like I'd have much to say, although for different reasons entirely. For large portions of the album, I was honestly struggling to come up with the exact word I'd want to use to describe what I was wearing. 'Coz this isn't **just** country music; there's some very strong electropop and disco influence spread throughout. Heck, to my ears, some of these songs are just straight-up funky. Right from the first song, it lends the whole album such a different vibe I just haven't encountered on a country album before — hence my struggle to come up with the word. Somewhere after the halfway point, I think I hit up the one that describes the vibe I was getting: "ethereal." Like I was spending a lot of this album just floating on air. Honestly, even if I didn't know this had won Album Of The Year, I think I would've been able to guess anyway. This just feels like an album that's just that important, y'know? And yet despite that, I never felt like it was too big. From the snatches of lyrics I caught, the whole thing was still incredibly grounded — probably even relatable. Not to me, but I can imagine someone else hearing this stuff and know it's speaking directly to them. Gotta give Kacey some good credit as an amazing singer, too. This album wouldn't work half as well if she didn't have the voice she does, goodness. Y'know, I haven't heard every album that was nominated for Album Of The Year at the 61st GRAMMYs. Honestly, skimming the list, there's a few on there I just really would not want to listen to — I mean, BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS? No thanks. And if there aren't a million more albums I'd rather listen to than Drake's SCORPION, lordy me. But despite not having the first-hand knowledge to say for sure, I feel like they made the right call. I mean, seriously, the alternate universe where Drake's overlong piece of shit beat this out... I can't even begin to imagine. But anyway, if there's anything I'm gonna take away from this album... Well, dang, I guess there's pie in my face for thinking so little of modern country, eh? Turns out there's been more going in the past six years than the same ol' formula. (I mean, there's also been the shit Morgan Wallen's been churning out, but that's besides the point.) I'm incredibly impressed. So, y'know, big props to the album for letting me know how wrong I was assuming that. And I guess I can also give the GRAMMYs some for managing to get one right for once. Which, it doesn't mean I'm gonna forgive them for having KID A lose to some late-period Steely Dan album, but still. Good on yah.
Like a beautiful summer day. Solid 5 Stars.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. Right off the bat, I have to avoid the temptation to make any direct comparisons to Taylor Swift. This is my first time actually properly listening to Kacey Musgraves, and I don’t think it’s fair for me to use another artist in the same space as a sort of crutch – yes, this is a country pop album, but this leans into more of an indie rock direction with a yacht rock bend that usually evokes something like Tame Impala or Coldplay. When she sounds like Taylor, then those comparisons are fair, but I’d only say about 3 or 4 tracks here lean that direction at most. I actually do like Taylor Swift, by the way, but I’ll have to expound on that more once we get 1989. As far as Kacey Musgraves goes, I’ve heard of her name, and so, so many of my friends have praised this album in particular. I know this album had massive acclaim, but that acclaim, combined with the sort of mythical status my friends gave this, led to me sort of avoiding it. Really, it’s just in the expectations – this isn’t a Janelle Monae thing where I just sort of lazily never bothered (large regret), but more of a “I really don’t want to let my friends down if I think it’s bad” sort of thing. Of course, I have proven myself to be a moron – I really, really liked this album. While I don’t think the songwriting is as sharp & witty as it was always made out to be, given the amount of broad lovey-dovey platitudes throughout this thing, it’s still pretty good. If nothing else, the way Kacey performs these tracks more than makes up for some of the flatter lines – her vocals are lovely, evoking more of an Alison Krauss vibe on her twangier parts, and Ariana Grande on her held notes. She glides on a lot of these instrumentals, with some really nice vocal melodies & structures. Every track is really nice to listen to from a technical standpoint; there’s a handful of tracks where the instrumentals don’t quite give back to her in the same way (i.e., no matching synth melodies or less energetic percussion), but it’s never enough to ruin a track. As far as those instrumentals go, there’s a really nice variety that starts to emerge from Track 4 onward. Like I said, my brain went to Tame Impala quite a bit (ESPECIALLY on “High Horse”), but it’s just a general conglomeration of indie rock sensibilities from The White Stripes onwards, blended with pop sensibilities of the early 2010s, some 90s/00s Quiet Storm, a hint of Alanis Morrissette, & country similar to both Taylor Swift’s Fearless (I know, I know, but shh), the Emmylou Harris solo album we got a while back, & a lot of Shania Twain (we’ll get to Come on Over eventually). I can’t really justify the bump up to a 5 other than my own personal enjoyment – objectively, it’s probably closer to a 4, but something about the last 3 tracks really got me good, especially with how lovely “Rainbow” is as a closing track. That one is fabulous. I think it’s just a catchy album, with a lot of nice choruses & hooks that brought a really warm energy. It’s not a nighttime album, so maybe I’ll have to listen to it outside, during the proper golden hour, to truly capture the vibes this album is going for. For now, it just clicked remarkably well with me, hence the bump to a 5. Not only do I feel like I need to listen to more of Kacey Musgraves, I feel like I need to text a few people about being this late to the party.
The best album she has
Fantastic
This was like one of the first albums I got on another account when I started this project, accidentally created this current account and just rolled with it and it’s taken THREE YEARS to generate this record again. It is an absolute masterpiece though, perfect blend of country and everything else. Kacey is a much needed presence in this genre.
So good it makes me sad that nothing since has lived up to it.
I saw Kacey live when she was touring for Golden Hour! During golden hour! BUT I never properly listened to this album, although according to setlist.fm she played 12 out of 13 songs from it that evening. Revisiting those songs some years later, despite their reliance on Laurel Canyon nostalgia, I still consider them excellent examples of pop & country music. No doubt the refrains from “Rainbow” and “Lonely Weekend” were stuck in my head at different times, but the one song I come back to the most is the gold nugget that is “High Horse” 🐴 HL: "Slow Burn", "Oh What a World", "Velvet Elvis", "Space Cowboy", "High Horse", "Rainbow" March 11, 2025
I discovered Kacey last year, in the summer time and honestly when I heard her music I think of warm evenings and this album gave me the same feeling.
Wundervolle Popmusik von ruhig mit Klavier bis elektronisch angehaucht. Tolle Stimme. 5/5
I normally hate pop country, but this is awesome (probably bc it’s so many other genres as well) (5)
This album absolutely bangs. I already knew most of the songs but hadn't listened to it front to back.
Iconic album
Wasn't looking forward to this, but it's excellent!
Very enjoyable. Glad I listened. Will listen again and add some of these songs to other playlists
this one slaps it's a chill album
This was beautiful. Somehow never listened to this album but will definitely listen again.
10/10, no notes. Big Kacey fan- R. I do like her voice, but don't know how often I'd come back to this album. 4/5 - d
I'm a sucker for good country and good pop albums. This is the perfect blend. It expands on her previous country-pop albums beautifully. Space Cowboy and Rainbow have been on repeat in my house for years.
Just lovely
Amazing
You know how Spotify makes up weird genres? This album is the most “Sunshine Rainbow Activist” album there could be. It’s perfect for what it does.
Impressive
So talented. Would listen repeatedly. And will.
Love Casey and love this album. This was her best by far. So far.
Pleasant sound
A refreshing country pop album that put Kacey into the superstardom level she deserves.
Great album love her voice! Slow Burn, Oh, what a World has all the feels, the kind of song that can almost make you briefly forget that we may all be totally fucked in a couple weeks. Love is a Wild Thing another great track. I can only hope the closing track which claims "It will all be alright" is true.
Hauntingly beautiful
Favorite Tracks: High Horse Slow Burn Rainbow
I love this album. In my journey to county music I found this and I added it to my collection. I would recommend this to anyone who is willing to give country a try.
BORN IN A HURRY ALWAYS LATE HAVEN’T BEEN EARLY SINCE ‘88 I used to say I hated country… I LIED adore this album, Kacey has such a beautiful voice and she is such a beautiful song writer
As soon as I heard the first song, I knew I was in for a treat - 5/5 Her lyrics are so simple, and that's what makes this album so good. You don't need to overcomplicate things when you are writing music as gorgeous as this. Her lyricism also shows she is one of us (sensitive, melancholic, anxious), and that makes me love her even more. I will be listening to this a lot from now on, except Mother or Rainbow, because they both made me cry and I don't need to deal with all of those emotions on a daily basis. Favourites: Slow Burn Oh, What a World
A bomb album.
One of my favourite albums that year. Witty writing, lush instrumentation, immaculate vibes.
Just throwing out that I wish there was a way to give half stars here. I liked this album a lot when it came out and it still stands up. Great crossover album. I feel like it can get country, indie rock, and pop people going. So going to give a 5 here, but really more like a 4.5.
This album popped my country cherry. It was really good but made me realize it's not what I wanted. Now I have a wife and a cat
No skips
Un personal favorite desde que lo escuché, Kacey puede ser muy poco country tradicional pero tiene una xvr mezcla con el pop.
Damn near perfect record!
Such an excellent country album. Kacey Musgraves has such a sweet voice, and such thoughtful and clever and emotive lyrics. The production is so modern and innovative. It feels like a warm country album with glittery pop embellishments. I thought the singles were great when the album came out, and new favorites include "Slow Burn" "Wonder Woman" "Happy & Sad" and "Golden Hour."
5/5 Oh What a World Rainbow? Butterflies?
Good
opening song banger closing song er. all the songs in between bangers incredible album. I don't know if I'm a country fan, but I certainly am a Kacey Musgraves fan.
I'm in love
Top-tier modern country. Not a single miss across the album.
I’ve heard one song from Kacey Musgraves before this which I thought was fine. But I loved this! Beautiful melodies, quality songwriting, and a collection of tunes that fit nicely together. A perfect album. 5/5
Every song is good. Kacey Musgraves is hot.
Amazing album and a beautiful voice
Don't really listen to modern country, but really enjoyed this. Lovely voice. Went and listened to her other hits. 5/5
I forgot how much of a sucker I am for Kacey musgraves. I typically abhor new country but between her voice and her lyrics I totally love it. Butterflies and high horse has always been a fav of mine but happy and sad and velvet Elvis are the two I have stuck in my head the most this time around.
Very enojyable. Modern country done right, lovely voice and some nice musicla quirks without overpowering a country roots. 5
Caught her on this tour at Red Rocks. If she stopped recording tomorrow, this would be her signature record. Not a single track worth skipping. Just a classic record … from an old soul, waiting her turn … but she’s still got a lot to learn.
I don't think I've ever been immediately struck by how outstanding an album is. Musgraves has truly produced a masterpiece by all definitions of the word. I can't say enough good things about this record. 6/5.
the album's allure stems from not only in its musical innovation but also in its ability to radiate a warm, dreamy quality throughout, mirroring the golden hues its title suggests. it is literally my favourite so far - it’s such a 10/10 album, and deserves nothing less. full review on ig - @musicwithnessa
Beautiful voice, supremely talented
5/5
Really enjoyed
This album is the answer to the question, what would it sound like if Taylor Swift made a country record with the Flaming Lips? And it sounds awesome Deceptively simple songs with a touch of psychedelia that are enormously affecting One of the best albums of the past decade
JFC this album is fantastic. I'm not into this type of music and just had a stinker of a slow album in Joni Mitchell but this is fuego.
Simply beautiful songwriting and singing - not quite country, not quite pop. Immensely more wonderful than poor Taytay
Surprisingly fantastic. Every song is good. Love it.
This is good country. I didn't know good country still got made. Not my style (slow burn is the opposite of the 170bpm punk tracks i normally listen to), but hot damn what a song writer. I'll probably revist at some point. This is a great album to keep in the back pocket for when the car can't decide what to listen to on a road trip
This is one of those albums - I consider it a masterpiece, and nearly perfect. I remember listening to it when it came out, walking through NE Minneapolis where I lived at the time, hearing "Slow Burn" and "Lonely Weekend" and thinking, if it continues like this throughout the album it's going to be a classic. It did not let me down! I listened to it, probably dozens of times over the following couple years, and it's still one I come back to regularly. At our wedding, Margaret and I had the musicians play "Oh, What A World" for the processional. There's unfortunately one track I regularly skip (High Horse), but all the others are top notch songwriting. I also appreciate how, despite being a "country" artist Kacey is not afraid to incorporate other genres and production techniques that you don't often here in pop country. Five stars!
Utterly charming. And a total Trojan Horse in that the lightness of effect and whimsical affect of many songs belie real yearning and pathos. KM is begging you to underrate her. Title cut is wondrous. "Slow Burn" and "Lonely Weekend" are also each top-shelf in slightly different registers. "Space, Cowoby" is the best punctuated song title ever (a treat for the grammarian-bookworm cohort) and lovely besides. The fun songs do their jobs, too. This record renewed one's faith in the ability of commercial music – and pop-country music – to produce beauty.
nah fuck this is actually so sweet I love it. in a golden hour of your life and taking the time to recognise that??? yes!!!
i'm not a fan of country music but this album is very good, i really liked it (sorry for my english) 9/10
What a gem
één van mijn favoriete country albums. Slowburn Happy & sad Golden Hour Maar vooral, Rainbow. Hoe mooi is die
I was incredibly excited to see this as my album for today. My parents went through a country phase in the nineties. Much to my disappointment, the classic rock and eighties music that they used to listen to didn't get anymore time on the stereo system in our living room, and they were replaced by Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, and Trisha Yearwood. I hated it. Thankfully, I have an appreciation for those artists now, but at the time that my parents listened to them, I hated it. Post 9/11, most country music has been filled with faux patriotism, but thankfully this album is a stark contrast to that. Filled with vulnerable lyrics, excellent instrumentation, and experimentation with other genres, Kacey Musgraves shows that country music can still showcase all the things I like about older country music: emotional vulnerability, empowerment of women, and the complicated feelings of love. Every song on this album is distinct in sound and in tone, and it's one of those rare albums that I love to listen to all the way through. From the disco-infused "High Horse" to the witty word play of "Space Cowboy," Kacey Musgraves shows that she can do it all. Songs like "Wonder Woman," manage to show a certain vulnerability that I think female country artists abandoned for a time, when those thoughts of introspection were replaced with ballads of keying the cars of unfaithful lovers. While she may not be Wonder Woman, this album shows that Kacey Musgraves can do a lot, and she can do it really well.
Great voice and imagery in this album. Simple instruments all workcso well together.
Charming
I listened to this on my HomePod today and it’s in Dolby Atmos on Apple Music. The quality of it made me regret I started buying vinyl records. Truly reference level shit.
Poppy alt-rock with ample country influence and I also caught some funk and disco stuff. Gorgeous voice, some excellent turns of phrase. I enjoyed this more than expected!
Fantastic album
Modern classic, no notes.
One of the best modern country albums period.
A really nice album. I wonder if kids born today will listen to this in 40 years and think it's still as good then. Lonely Weekend is really nice.
This seems like an easy 5. There are so many songs that are engaging.... though Rainbow and Butterflies are nearly perfect, most of the rest of the album shows strength with both melody and lyrical content. Very easy to appreciate.
Just lovely.
Such a good album. Her pop breakout. Velvet Elvis, Space Cowboy, Rainbow are the totl.
Yay. One of my all time faves. This was on my list to listen to soon, and now I will. I don't even like country, but I love this.
Sublime adult contemporary pop that transcends the country-pop label. Hazy days of summer kinda mood.
Love Kacey, the simple storytelling songwriting, her vocals are awesome, and her wordplay is super fun to listen to. I have this album on vinyl and listen to it frequently.
This album marks the end of a trilogy of great albums from Ms. Musgraves. I think she's a great songwriter and performer. This one frequently veers into pop, which is usually not something I want from my country musicians, but she pulls it off spectacularly. There are so many ear worms on here. I think it's a bit early to give it a 5 as it hasn't really had a chance to take the test of time, but I really do think it's a contemporary classic. It's just a shame she went full pop on the next album and realized a super disappointing pile of crap. I'm hoping she has another album like this in her before she calls it a day.
I'm a huge swiftie so I'm familiar with Musgraves, but I'd never actually had a reason to listen to her. I know people have tried to make up beef between these two (which I don't get) but I understand why. This album is very early Taylor before she went much more pop / indie. And I love it. I'm a sucker for stuff. Great country with pop infusion. Need to dig into her discography more.
One of my favorite new country albums. A classic already.
🥰🥰🥰 Kacey is my girl
great!
"Golden Hour" is the fourth studio album from Kacey Musgraves. She co-wrote and co-produced with Daniel Tadhian and Ian Fitchuk. The music is classified as country pop with elements of disco, electropop, electronica and yacht rock. Yeah, without knowing anything, I would just classify this as pop. This is a nice sounding and very well-produced album. Kacey said she wrote a lot of love songs, which she hadn't too much before, as she just was coming off getting married and was in her golden hour. Never bashful about publicly stating she does drugs, she said she wrote a few songs under the influence of acid. Good for her. This album was a huge success being nominated for and winning four Grammy's including album of the year. This album is filled with hits. It starts with "Slow Burn" and its guitar-driven and "poppy" sound. Great lyrics..."Born in a hurry, always late." Nice lyrical use of contrasts. Another nice sounding song is the second single "Butterflies." Good production with its keyboards and piano. She uses a vocoder in "Oh, What a World." Another enjoyable, optimistic song. Guitar. Banjo. The album second half continues her run of singles. "Space Cowboy" might be its most country-sounding song. Slide guitar. Dreamy...yeah, this is one of the ones she wrote tripping. Give her man some space. "High Horse" incorporates more of a dance beat and chunky bass line. This reminds me more of a late 70's song. She even sounds nice telling her man to hit the road. The album ends with her final single "Rainbow." A beautiful ballad. Rain and rainbow imagery. An uplifting song about not giving up... There's always a rainbow above your head. I saw Kacey at Lollapalooza the following year and she was very good. This is a great album with a lot of top-notch pop songs. I don't if she'll ever reach these heights again but she doesn't have to; she has this.
A solid country record with some modern (and retro) twists. The influences range from Dusty Springfield to what sounds like Daft Punk? Pretty nuts and caught me totally by surprise. Favorite tracks: "Slow Burn", "Butterflies", "Space Cowboy", "High Horse"
Not in my edition of the book! 2018. 5 stars The millennium lovechild of The Dixie Chicks, Joni Mitchell and Lana Del Rey. Great songs, lovely voice, classy warm production and excellent musicianship. On the repeat play list.
キュートでポップで癒される、そして切なさを必ずと言っていいほど包含する彼女のストーリーに引き込まれた。
Without a doubt, this was a personal 5; one forced oneself to listen after reading all the plaudits and awards, despite being ready to loathe it, was taken aback by a thoroughgoing (even deep) enjoyment, which has largely lasted on subsequent listening across multiple years. But it might fall just short in pure critical terms. “Slow Burn” is a great opener, and “Lonely Weekend” nearly matches it. “Happy and Sad” is terrific, real pathos hiding in the easy beats and the title track is as good a love song as one has heard in years – really it should close the record. Perhaps one has to be a writerly type (as one is) or exceedingly editorial-minded (ditto) to appreciate the full and profound significance of the comma in “Space, Cowboy.” There is a precision-engineered, high-end feel to these songs, as if this is the absolute best and most advanced pop-country-music industrial complex can produce. The songs are almost clinically good (winningly so in “Oh What a World” and “Wonder Woman,” less effectively with “Velvet Elvis” and “High Horse” both of which one can do without because they seem jokey toss-offs, what with the cutesy production flourishes.) And yet one was deeply moved by the title cut upon first listening and still love it, can be touched even, when one slows down to listen to it. [Weird that this record is not listed in one’s book, nor on the 1001.net site, even under the exes.] 4.5 / 5 (rounding up for personal meaning)
So much more than country, Golden Hour combines electronic, folk and pop influences. It provides the perfect backdrop for Musgraves’ exploration of loss, love and maturation.
Very nice surprise. Nora Jones via Katie Melua. Great singer and some beautiful songs to meditate to.
Automatic five stars since I own this album and have listened to it many times. I adore this album. This is the ninth album I’ve already heard (just released I had miscounted earlier, ugh). I was a little late to this album as I only discovered Kacey Musgraves in late 2018. Someone had added “Oh, What a World” onto a shared playlist I was on, and it was love at first listen. I’ve been a big fan of ever since.
Listened to on 8/17/22 5/5 Favorite song: space cowboy, happy + sad, butterflies, slow burn I love this album - Kacey is such a talented artist and her songwriting skills are amazing. I listened to this album all day long and only wound up liking it more and more
Beautiful. Goes a bit too 'poppy' for me over the last few tracks, but the initial two thirds of this album is wonderful. Absolutely loved it - straight onto my playlist.
Something about this album rolls off the tongue so well. I fell in love with “slow burn” awhile ago and was happy to see this album was on the list as I knew I’d like it. It met all my expectations and then some. Will definitely listen again in the future.
hehehehehehehehehe have listened to this since 2018. STILL MAKES ME HAPPY and sad at the same time :'((
Enjoyed this. Modern country, some fun twists and turns in instrumentation. And the girl can write some vicious lyrics.
A masterpiece of pop country. Kaceys voice is on a whole nother level here. The albums closer is stunning and brilliant. Top to bottom there’s no skips to be had. Absolutely incredible album. Listen to this one!
It's good
Coups de coeur : Golden Hour Lonely weekend
Yeah this is fantastic. Even ignoring the title, this album just brings such a warm feeling and thorough comfort with it. Part of that is just what country music does (although it is not at all my favorite genre), but Kacey’s voice has a great delicate mess to it which amplifies that. Really creative song topics/lyrics and production stays fresh by working in elements of electronic, dance, and pop. 9/10
My wife plays this all the time. It will always remind me of her
YESSSSSSSS
Probably the most surprising album to date. I love it! I haven’t been able to move on to today’s album because this one has been on repeat. It’s labeled country pop. I hear a little twang here and there, but there is more pop than country, which is a good thang.
I was impressed with this album when it first came out and still think it is very good. We get a strong sense of who Kacey Musgraves is from this record and I thought it blended country with contermporary pop very well. The Melodies in lonely weekend, velvet Elvis, and High Horse were all super catchy.
Well this was a delightful surprise! This was such a perfect soundtrack to a lunchtime walk on a beautiful spring day. Kacey Musgraves in my ears, sunshine and a smile on my face. I loved her voice, her songwriting, and the creative instrumentation of this album. I enjoyed how she played around with the country genre to create something fun and so engaging. I enjoyed every song. A few notes include the creative reuse of the "Space Cowboy" title, the gloriously lovely "Velvet Elvis," the clever "Wonder Woman," the exquisite country-disco mashup of "High Horse," the beautiful title track "Golden Hour"... and the rest!
I’ve loved this album since its release, but for some reason I was very surprised to find Kacey Musgraves on this list. I’m really happy she is. GOLDEN HOUR is such a nice album… it flows along with strong country roots mixed with a lot of other vibes. Who doesn’t want to take their “High Horse” out on the dance floor?! But this album is mostly made up of more contemplative songs that flow gently along like a wonderful stream. I’m sure there are country purists who will judge, but I’m very happy Kacey Musgraves has made this list!
This was one of my top albums of 2018 although I admit I put it lower on my list than I should have. This album has aged incredibly well and I can't believe it's been four years already since it's release. Feels like yesterday. I love this album. Every song on it is special in it's own unique way and stirs up memories of this or that. Both memories of when the album came out and growing up in Texas. Funny, it took me till this album to find out who Kacey Musgraves was so after I went back to her other prior albums and enjoyed those almost as much. I think this was her best album and I think the Grammy's agreed.
Phenomenal album will listen again
Excellent!
Never thought I’d like a country album but here we are it’s great
Really nice album. Sort of folky / country vibe with beautiful vocals
loveee
This album feels like getting a nice long hug from a good friend you haven't seen in a while. One of my favorites.
Oh yes, Slow Burn is such a mood. Also really enjoy Butterflies, Space Cowboy, and High Hopes. Mother hit a nerve, it's short and bittersweet but being so far away from my family right now gave it punch. This album is just what I needed. I really appreciate her California country vibe.
Man, this is great. Good writing, production, the whole 9.
Whole album is amazing, stuck between a 4 and 5. Great music, solid pop album with a lot of influenaces
The tracks sound very similar, but the vibe of the record is very pleasant and comforting. I will probably listen to it again while working or reading. Favorite tracks : Slow Burn, Butterflies
good pop, enjoyed, just cannot really relate to this
It's a pretty good album overall. It's definitely more of a modern country album. It has some good songs on there, but it's not my favorite. Pretty good.
I like the voice despite it being twangy. The pop country feel felt different and it was pretty entertaining album. Velvet Elvis has me laughing
Great country pop record
Super
I really like this album I think that it was pretty nice. Pretty listen to emotional songs. The only song that I didn't like is mother I think it's very slow and over emotional in my opinion, but from that it's a great album I actually like her a lot.
Favorite Track: Rainbow Least Favorite Track: Velvet Elvis
A golden record. I loved this album since the first listen what feels like wayyyy back when on a roadtrip from northern California to Temecula. Quiet, contemplative, and a little fun. Singing and songwriting at its best with a perfect combination of contemplate rebellion, country twang, and cowboys you can barely wrangle.
Angelic, sweet, poppy. I love her and Slow Burn is an all-timer.
🌬️🍃
Album sounded really nice. Never really listened to Kacey before.
Canta muy bien esta chica y el disco me entró gostoso
Not a country guy but I am a Kacey Musgraves guy
This is country? I usually can't stand the country albums, but this was actually pretty easy to listen to. I think it leans more into pop than country for a lot of it.
Delightful!
4/5
Liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Kind of light and the vocals were really good!
어우 진짜 듣기 좋네 2018년도 앨범이 오른 이유가 있다
This was fantastic for the mood.
This is just straight up good music. If this came on the radio you certainly wouldn't be hearing any complaints from me.
Nice easy listening country
This was a Slow Burn over a Lonely Weekend.
I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this. A very pleasant sound and the electronic elements add texture and prevent it from feeling too run of the mill.
She has an awesome voice
This is a very pleasant album. I have the impression some people really love it and see it as an all-timer. I think that's a bit much - it does what it does well, but doesn't really do anything particularly special/transcendent. It reminds me of the good parts of early Taylor Swift, without much corniness. Fave Tracks: Slow Burn, Velvet Elvis, High Horse 3.9/5
Just fun
Ya know the background music sounds fine but the atrocious lyrics and country fried vibes are fucking everything up Okay maybe not EVERYTHING
Mysigt och över förväntan!
I can see why everyone loves this. It's a perfect canvas. Scenic and romantic. Really beautiful.
4.35
Love
I'm not normally into country, especially any country made since Taylor stopped making it. Oh, but I LIKED this! Her voice gives me chills. I'm giving it 4 stars for now, but I may regret not giving that 5th star later. It's giving yeehaw Lana Del Rey. Space Cowboy might be my new obsession.
This is exactly what I was in the mood for this morning. I'm a sucker for music in the "Americana" genre, which is what we used to call country before country became...rap? I don't know. Anyway, AMAZING voice, banjo accompaniment, and actual country flavor. Whether or not it belongs on the list isn't for me to say, but I thought this was great, and I'll be adding this to my personal collection ⭐⭐⭐.75
More like 4.5!
There’s a reason this album is on here, she is an absolutely amazing artist.
Good country album. Lots of good lyrics
Very pleasant, absolutely great melodies that are almost sugar sweet The album sags slightly in the middle, but absolutely knocks it out the park with the last three tracks, though i fear slow burn captures the yearning part of my music taste the most
Great voice and very well-written songs
butterfly was cute - something about this seemed AI though. maybe just over produced?
Oh, a contemporary singer-songwriter album that I actually like! How did that happen? First of all, Kacey Musgraves has a distinctive voice but doesn’t have an overbearing singing style. Second, she writes songs that are catchy while striking the right balance between familiar and innovative ideas. Third, “Golden Hour” is professionally and precisely produced—without flashy effects that demand attention and distract from the music. Fourth, the timing was perfect—this album is ideal for waking up slowly on a Sunday morning. Actually, those are pretty simple ingredients for a recipe for success. It works!
Released in March 2018, *Golden Hour* represents a pivotal moment in Kacey Musgraves' career—a dreamy, genre-blurring exploration of love, self-discovery, and the beauty found in life's quieter moments. The album emerged during a transformative period in her life: following a breakup, she met and married indie singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly, and the record captures that rare, luminous space where personal contentment meets artistic confidence. --- ## Lyrical Analysis Musgraves' songwriting on *Golden Hour* marks a departure from the sharp, satirical wit that defined her earlier work (*Same Trailer Different Park*, *Pageant Material*). Here, she embraces vulnerability over venom, choosing earnestness over irony. **Standout lyrical moments include:** - **"Slow Burn"** opens with the instantly relatable: *"Born in a hurry, always late, haven't been early since '88"*—a casual, conversational admission that sets the album's unhurried tone - **"Space Cowboy"** demonstrates her clever wordplay with the title itself—a double meaning referencing both the Steve Miller Band classic and the act of giving a lover space. The line *"when a horse wants to run, there ain't no sense in closing the gate"* captures mature resignation rather than bitter breakup theatrics - **"Happy & Sad"** explores emotional complexity with painful relatability: *"And I'm the kind of person who starts getting kind of nervous / When I'm having the time of my life"*—capturing that anxiety when joy feels too precarious - **"Rainbow"** (co-written with Shane McAnally and Natalie Hemby) serves as the album's emotional thesis: *"Let go of your umbrella / 'Cause darlin', I'm just tryna tell ya / That there's always been a rainbow / Hangin' over your head"* The album's lyrical approach is notably less politically charged than her previous work. While Musgraves has been vocal about LGBTQ+ allyship and progressive values, *Golden Hour* chooses intimate introspection over cultural commentary—with the exception of "Mother," a 78-second meditation on maternal lineage inspired by an acid trip where she felt connected to the cycle of mothers across generations . However, some critics found the lyrics to be the album's "greatest shortfall," arguing that the layered wit and complexity of her earlier work was sacrificed for "increasingly lightweight textures and ideas" . The writing, while technically proficient, occasionally lacks the bite and dimension that defined her breakthrough. --- ## Musical Style & Production Musically, *Golden Hour* represents Musgraves' most ambitious genre experiment. Working with producers **Daniel Tashian** and **Ian Fitchuk** (who also co-wrote much of the album), she crafted what many describe as "psychedelic country" or "cosmic country"—though the "psychedelic" elements are more lavender-hued than mind-bending . **Key sonic characteristics:** - **Pedal steel and banjo** remain present but are processed through dreamy reverb, creating an ethereal, shoegaze-adjacent quality without the volume - **Electronic elements** appear subtly—vocoder touches on "Oh, What a World," synthesized vocals, and modern production flourishes that never overwhelm the organic foundation - **Disco influences** emerge on "High Horse," a track that pairs country wordplay (*"giddy up"*) with a four-on-the-floor dance beat - **Tempo and groove** became points of contention—Musgraves herself charted the BPMs against country radio hits to prove they matched, but critics noted a "perceived tempo" issue where the relaxed vocal delivery and cushioned reverb make songs feel slower than they are The production choices polarized listeners. Some praised the "shimmering electronic details" and "Steven Wilson-esque acoustic lines" , while others felt the album was "too quiet, and too inert to ultimately be memorable," comparing it to "succumbing to a room full of scented candles" . --- ## Themes & Concept The "golden hour" concept—photography's term for the warm, flattering light just after sunrise or before sunset—permeates the album's emotional landscape. This is music about **finding beauty in transition**, **embracing joy without cynicism**, and **maturing into self-acceptance**. **Central thematic threads:** 1. **New love's vulnerability** — "Butterflies," "Golden Hour," and "Love Is a Wild Thing" capture the intoxication of fresh romance without descending into cliché 2. **Emotional duality** — "Happy & Sad" and "Wonder Woman" (which explores her own limitations rather than empowerment) acknowledge that contentment can coexist with anxiety 3. **Space and independence** — "Space Cowboy" offers a breakup narrative free of bitterness, while "Lonely Weekend" finds freedom in solitude 4. **Intergenerational connection** — "Mother" bridges time and geography through maternal bonds The album's emotional arc moves from the tentative optimism of "Slow Burn" through romantic intoxication, moments of doubt, playful release ("Velvet Elvis," "High Horse"), and finally to the reassuring warmth of "Rainbow." It's a journey that feels complete without being exhausting. --- ## Critical Reception & Influence *Golden Hour* achieved **universal critical acclaim**, earning Musgraves the **Album of the Year Grammy** in 2019—the first country album to win the top prize since Taylor Swift's *Fearless* in 2010. It also won Best Country Album and Best Country Song ("Space Cowboy"). The album's influence extended beyond country music: - It became a **crossover gateway** for listeners who "hate country but love this," expanding the genre's audience among indie and pop fans - It helped legitimize **genre-fluid country** in the mainstream, paving the way for artists like Orville Peck, Yola, and later Zach Bryan - Its **psychedelic country** aesthetic influenced subsequent releases in the "cosmic American music" revival However, the critical consensus wasn't unanimous. Some writers noted that the album's acclaim often came from "under-informed music journalists" who used it as "a cheap excuse to avoid delving deeper" into country music, while more experimental country artists received less attention . --- ## Pros & Cons ### **Pros:** | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Vocal Performance** | Musgraves' expressive, clear tone benefits from smart multi-tracking and tasteful mix placement; the reverb-drenched production suits her register perfectly | | **Genre Innovation** | Successfully bridges country, pop, and psychedelic elements without feeling forced; creates a distinctive sonic identity | | **Emotional Accessibility** | The earnest, lovestruck content resonates universally; "Rainbow" became an anthem for LGBTQ+ youth and anyone needing reassurance | | **Cohesion** | Remarkably consistent tone and vision throughout—every song feels like it belongs to the same world | | **Standout Tracks** | "Space Cowboy," "Butterflies," "Slow Burn," "High Horse," and "Rainbow" represent some of her strongest material | | **Maturity** | Shows growth from the sarcastic observer of her early work to someone comfortable with vulnerability | ### **Cons:** | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Lyrical Simplification** | Sacrifices the sharp wit and social commentary of *Same Trailer Different Park* for more straightforward emotional content; some tracks feel "underwritten" | | **Production Uniformity** | The dreamy, mid-tempo approach can make songs blend together; some tracks like "Wonder Woman" and the title track "fall flat" | | **Lack of Edge** | The absence of her characteristic sassiness might disappoint longtime fans; "the expected sassiness isn't really there" | | **Questionable Production Credits** | Heavy involvement from producers Tashian and Fitchuk in songwriting raises concerns about artist autonomy; some tracks feel "homogenized" | | **Disco Experiment** | "High Horse" and "Velvet Elvis" polarized listeners—some felt "High Horse" would have worked better as a "stomping hoedown" rather than disco | | **Memorability** | Some critics argued the album is "too quiet" and may not "stick with me in the same way" as more complex releases by contemporaries like Courtney Marie Andrews | --- ## Verdict *Golden Hour* is undeniably **Kacey Musgraves' most commercially successful and culturally significant album**, even if it's not necessarily her most lyrically ambitious. It represents a calculated risk that paid off—trading her reputation as country's cleverest satirist for something more vulnerable and universally accessible. The album works best when accepted on its own terms: as a document of a specific, fleeting emotional state (new love's glow) captured through a specific sonic lens (dreamy, genre-fluid country-pop). It's less successful when measured against her earlier work's sharpness or when seeking the experimental daring its "psychedelic" marketing suggested. **Final Assessment:** *Golden Hour* is a **beautiful, if somewhat slight, achievement**—an album that expanded country's audience and proved that earnestness doesn't have to equal blandness. It may not be her most enduring work, but it captured a moment perfectly, and sometimes that's enough to earn classic status. **Rating:** 8/10 (light)
Great album. I liked this better than what I have heard of Taylor Swift. Four stars
This was a pleasant surprise, and change of pace.
Sweet one
Not my bag but I was very impressed. Bit samey after a while
Side one is sweet melancholia of the finest order. The production is gorgeous and Musgraves has just the right voice, both literally and figuratively, to pull it off. If side two had done it again I may have had to mention sameyness as a minor quibble, but instead we’re treated to the same skills of songwriting and melody set in more varied and largely successful contexts. The overarching tone manages to retain the don’t-take-everything-so-seriously vibe that seemed to be her calling card, yet the often understated presentation is packed with knowing abilities of a tight songwriting unit. If that implies the sound of a music industry cynical/clinical machine at work, the results are explicitly in opposition to that. If I have been tricked, I applaud the trickery. Country music is still (re)present(ed) on Golden Hour but this is unmistakably a warm pop triumph. As a result it’s not capable of making me a country convert. It does however stand up amazingly well next to some country adjacent albums I hold in huge regard.
I haven't listened to Kacey before, and wasn't quite sure what genre to expect, but my guesses were either pop or country. Turns out it's both, but to my utter surprise I found myself catching elements of Disco, RnB, Funk, Yacht Rock, indie, electronic stuff... Wow! The production and arrangements were phenomenal, and helped elevate the pop-country side of things to something new. Not quite top tier for me, but very close.
"Golden Hour" the song is very special to me. Overall this is a fine pop record with a little hint of country here and there. A little bland and some moments feel a little bit auto-tuned to me. But it's not offensive or anything. Her voice is nice, the music is nice. Probably not much here that I'd revisit though. "Love is a Wild Thing" is kinda fun. "High Horse" is a little funky which is cool.
Great songwriter. Not my usual but won me over.
Really good stuff, a fresh take on country and she has a great voice. Some really great songs in here
Bubble gum country. But nice melodies, great voice, topped with a couple of hits. I will propably never play this on purpose, but I had a good time listening to her now.
As good in 2026 as 2018. She just can really write a song
really breezy and pleasant listen - if i'm being totally real it's a 3/5 because i probably wouldn't go out of way to listen to it again but getting a trans british person to like a fucking country album is so impressive im bumping it up to a 4
Enjoyed
Country! Lol
My wife listens to this a lot on a mix, so I was shocked to already know most of the songs without having known they were all by the same artist. Playing them all together in context formed a unity, where I could better understand Kacey Musgraves as an artist and as a person. She sounds like and dreams about the same ideals as girls I used to know as a kid in Ohio. In a way, this vibe was very nostalgic for me, and very comforting. Golden Hour has received a lot of flack on this site for being basic and bubble gum, but sometimes the heart needs that. I was charmed.
Ble glad når jeg så coveret.
Fairly enjoyable.
My go to country album. ‘Lonely weekend’ is such a great track. However in comparison to tracks like ‘Butterflies’, ‘Oh What a World’ and ‘High Horse’, it pales in comparison. The butterfly metaphors on Butterflies are very apt and entertaining, the banjo! It works so well and the chorus in this track with ‘And you give me butterflies refrain is so fun to sing. Those three tracks are my favourites but the album as a whole is great. A modern country album, this is one of my quintessential summer albums so it’s a different to be listening to it in winter. Feels like the peek of spring. Rating 4/5- GEMV (16.02.2026)
This took me my surprise, great collection of pop folk with clear and creative lyrics that lean country in a tongue in cheek way. Great album
It was a real breath of fresh air to get to listen to a more modern album on this roll, which may have enhanced my listening experience, but I think this album stands on its own merits beyond that. I made sure to give it a few listens to give it a fair go, and really enjoyed it each time. There is some really great, lush production going on behind everything, and small instrumental flourishes here and there that add a lot to the sound. On top of that Kacey Mugraves' voice is just superb. There was a bit of a lull in the mid-section of the record, but its made up for by some really great tracks moving in and out of the top and bottom respectively. Fav Track: 4 - Oh, What A World Best Three Track Run: 1, 2, 3
I enjoy listening to Kacey Musgraves. There's something comforting about her voice. That said, some of these songs are repetitive. Most are country, but some are pop that could just as easily been performed by Taylor Swift.
Loved it, listened to it twice. I want to give it 5/5. but I just can't.
Solid album
She's got a nice voice and the songs are very well constructed. Not my kinda jam, but objectively I think this one sits around a 3 or 4 for a ranking.
Nicely done. Pleasant AF.
Fantastic record. Cover to cover great. My only nits against this album are some of the parts that feel overproduced. But just a stunner of a record. 8.5/10
This is a solid album. Nice vocals and some good sounds overall. A bit of a country/pop crossover. I think it’s a worthy entry on the list. 3.5 with a skew to 4
Country tinged pop with powerfully interesting chord progressions and big choruses - what's not to like
slayed! love
I thought this would be some country pop crap but it feels as if Taylor Swift actually had some depth.
I was a little surprised this album was on this list, but I do think Kasey Musgraves is an important artist so I get it. Country is a male dominated genre full of absolutely garbage music (I say this as a country fan, I just think 95% of it now is terrible because it's bro-pop-country trash). So Kasey Musgraves is a breath of fresh air in the genre. This album makes you feel nostalgic for summers gone by. I also think the songwriting is better than most will give it credit for.
The whole vibe of the album just gives me nostalgia even though it’s not one that came out when I was a child. The instrumentation just has a way of making you feel warm almost. I think this album will be a grower for me, I already knew a couple of songs before listening to the album the whole way through and I really like them I just don’t find myself gravitating towards them much but I do think there will come a time in my life when I will if that makes sense. So I expect this album could deserve a reevaluation when that day comes and maybe a higher ranking but for now I’m happy with where it’s sitting on my AOTY overall. 78/100
Ik dacht dat ik dit niet kende, maar het eerste nummer heb ik gelijk al wel eens gehoord. Bij de eerste tonen denk ik aan Taylor Swift en zoals jullie weten, ben ik groot fan van Taylor Swift. Maar het doet me ook denken aan John Mayer, het ligt heel lekker in het gehoor, vind ik. Het is countrypop, maar zonder alle dingen waar ik me aan erger. Misschien is dit soort muziek een guilty pleasure van me, maar ik vind dit erg fijn om te luisteren. Het is uiteraard goed geproduceerd, maar niet overgeproduceerd. En afgezien van een enkel Daft Punk vocoderstemmetje, komt er ook niet teveel poespas bij kijken. Na enige tijd beginnen de liedjes wel een beetje op elkaar te lijken en dat is dan wel het nadeel. Het is allemaal wat braafjes en er zitten te weinig echt beklijvende tracks tussen. En af en toe zit er zelfs zo'n veel te commerciele track tussen als High Horses. Ik hoor hem en denk gelijk: ja, dit is dus kut. Dan snap ik het helemaal als mensen dit een 2 geven ofzo. Maar deze modernere vorm van country is wel echt stukken beter dan die tandenknarsende palingsound van die koibois die we al te veel hebben gehoord in deze lijst. Nee, dan heb ik echt 1000x liever dit, dus laten we die brave, keurig geproduceerde, zoetgevooisde 3,5 afronden naar boven.
Wow, I liked this way more than I thought I would. Really, this is the kind of experience that justifies this entire exercise -- there is a 0% chance I would have listened to this album otherwise, and I really liked it (this is the 4th or 5th time this has happened now, out of like 15 albums total).
Damn this album is good. Plenty of songs that I've heard somewhere before, and a lot of warm, poppy country with great songwriting. High Horse and Rainbow are truly amazing ways to finish out the album with the decent title track sandwiched in the middle.