Travel Tunes
Thoughts on the music I'm listening to while I travel
star crossed - Kacey Musgraves
Overall
I love how this album tells a story. It hearkens back to a time when albums were intended to be consumed in their entirety, with specific attention paid to the track list placement and artistic choices of each song. To begin, not many artists generally create introductory songs for their album, in this case the sole purpose of which is to lead you into Kacey’s musical novella. “Star-crossed” is a short but sweet summary which plays like the opening of a dramatic stage play with the musical feel of a Spanish flamenco dance. Already QUITE cool. While the Spanish-influence theme doesn’t flow through all songs, I still find it a great artistic choice; this is of course on top of the typically experimental editing style that Kacey has leaned towards in recent years as evidenced on Golden Hour. This album chronologically moves from the sadness of realizing divorce is on the horizon, to the experience itself, to the aftermath. To start with the first third of the track list, I found it incredibly heartbreaking to hear Kacey lament about coming to terms with the situation and all her fruitless efforts to preserve their marriage; this is all heavily addressed in “Good Wife”. The middle of the album then evokes the true sadness of not being ready to let go of something and someone you love. “Camera Roll” and “Easier Said” are classic examples of the sweetly sung, raw emotional compositions that Kacey is known for, in this case a melancholy variation of such. Moving to the end of the album, it wraps up with a few more upbeat songs about acceptance. I have to say that this wasn’t my favorite portion. I am not much for the typical upbeat and encouraging songs about strife, so this could very well be written off as personal preference. However, I don’t feel these ones were particularly deep or lyrically impressive, exception being the closing tune. “Gracias a La Vida” draws the Spanish influence back in and is a nice change for Kacey. I rate this one an okay tune and closer based on the meaning and the artist’s venture into a new style; it’s worth noting though that I rate this song mid-level due to its experimental nature for Kacey but if I were to hear it amongst other Spanish music I wouldn’t rate it too highly.
Now to touch upon the works a whole. Although the entire album is sold as a musical summary of a difficult time in the artists life, it doesn’t follow an expected thematic flow of deep sadness to more upbeat acceptance. There are some more upbeat tunes that break up the works and represent the rollercoaster of emotions that this experience brings. At times Kacey lyrically relays gut-wrenching anguish while at others we are introduced to feelings of stubborn spite as reflected in “Justified”. The thematic movement of the album is meant to reflect the emotional movement of that time in Kacey’s life, and I find it artistically beautiful. Overall an excellent album. I was worried with the acclaim of the preview album that this one might have fallen below expectations, but Kacey did not disappoint.
Ranking
• SWEET DEAL: star-crossed; good-wife; justified; breadwinner; camera roll; easier said
• GOOD BUT NOT GREAT: cherry blossom; simple times; if this were a movie; breadwinner; hookup scene; angel; gracias a la vida
• EH: angel; keep lookin’ up; what doesn’t kill me; there is a light
Top Lyrics:
• “I’m more than just a little justified”
Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent -
Lewis Capaldi
Overall
First off, woah on this title. I just love how flat out COOL it is. There are only a few album titles that really catch my eye in how curious they are, and this is one of them. The juxtaposition of 'Divinity' and 'Hellish' makes it stick with you.
Overall… major "sad boy vibes", but in the best way possible. This album is full on breakup anthology, but not in chronological progression of heartbreak to recovery as some may do. Lewis Capaldi is supplying a pick and mix candy bag filled with a variety of consistently heartbroken melodies.
As far as style here, Lewis tends to follow a formula of softer speeches which gradually lead to high energy chorus' that hammer the point home. To get into more of the specifics, let's go through a few of my favorites.
"Grace" - Cool opener for the album. Begins with a shout to catch your attention and follows up by expanding on that statement. The whole song is pretty dynamic, with a great chorus that is admittedly fun to follow along with. The voice layering is ear-catching and I think the concept of finding "salvation" in someone's grace is a beautiful - connects back to the divine/hellish word choices for the title (I love a thematic tie-in).
"Hold Me While You Wait" - Very fun karaoke, heartbreak song. It follows the flow of a breakup conversation, which I find a creative way to relay his story to the audience. It goes from asking questions and discussing, to the chorus of more passionate pleading. Also a very sad concept of asking someone to simply stay and be with you while they wait for something better to come along.
"Someone You Loved" - There is definitely a reason this was his top single. There is such relatability in the depression of suddenly losing your loved one. Your whole world and comfort is ripped out from under you. His passionate choruses can just about break your heart - everyone's been there.
"Maybe" - The main crescendo is the mirroring his building frustration in a really cool way. And as a related side note, sometimes the way someone cusses during song is very cool to me - can genuinely add to a song. "Lately I've been f****n up a good thing every chance I can get". I just think the F emphasis is jarring and impactful - exactly what the artist intended.
"Forever" - Very sweet undertone to this one, which is a good follow-up to the overwhelming roller coaster of "Maybe". Classic song about dealing with a relationship that finished in a sort of fizzling, healthy way. Nothing super special but still a good one.
"Don't Get Me Wrong" - LOVE the build of this from a sort of whisper at the start. When we get to the chorus, it's his typical shout of a plea, but also very slowly delivered and intentional - it doesn't punch, it exclaims and lingers in the air. The story of leading someone on just because you don't want to be alone is another heartbreaking narrative.
"Hollywood" - Not many songs on this album are this 'boppy'. It seems to keep a very consistent, same-y tempo and mood throughout, even at the chorus (excluding a small changeup at the end). This makes it feel like a sprint of a song until the disrupting final plea. Interesting musical path to follow; in that way it breaks up the other songs based on formatting, which appears to be a good thing. Jury is out on this one.
"Fade - LOVE THIS ONE. Very soft beginning where you don't expect the WHAM. And the concept is really moving too. "I wish somebody would've told me, that I'd end up so caught up in need of your demons… that'd I'd be lost without you leading me astray." Sometimes relationships can become toxic in a co-dependent way. Its something no-one would expect, but you end up reliant on the good and the bad of that person and dynamic. Even though you know it's not healthy, you don't want it to go away. Lewis admits his addiction to even the negative relationship aspects… at the song's conclusion he both accepts that and pleads regardless… "Don't fade away.".
Overall this album is a great breakup banger and successful debut. I'm excited for what's to come from Lewis. His unique voice and talent for infusing emotion into art will be the key to success.
Ranking
• SWEET DEAL: Maybe; Don't Get Me Wrong; Hold Me While You Wait; Somebody You Loved; Fade
• GOOD BUT NOT GREAT: Grace; Hollywood; Forever
• EH: Headspace; Lost on You; One; Bruises
Top Lyrics:
• "I let my guard down, and then you pulled the rug. I was getting kind of used to be someone you loved."
• "Don’t get me wrong, I'd love to stay too long. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to tell you whatever you want."
• "I wish somebody would've told me… That I'd end up so caught up in need of your demons. That I'd be lost without you leading me astray."