Review / 200 Words Or Less
Kacey Musgraves
Golden Hour

MCA Nashville (2018) Brendan Hilliard

Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour cover artwork
Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour — MCA Nashville, 2018

Let’s get it out of the way: Believe the hype. All of Kacey Musgraves’s records are the real deal – slices of contemporary country that don’t sound like shit and hint at something greater and more progressive. Hint no more. Golden Hour is Musgraves best and most fully realized record, one that transcends country, or any genre really, with the focus on crystalline songwriting, gorgeous arrangements and something entirely different with the startling disco bump of “High Horse”. It’s the defining career achievement of which there are already many moments that have had that mantle previously. Just don’t waste any more time not listening to it.

Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour cover artwork
Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour — MCA Nashville, 2018

Recently-posted album reviews

House Of All

Inklings
Tiny Global Productions (2026)

Six blokes who survived the Mark E. Smith sausage-squeezing meat grinder, plus a beautiful Blue Orchid for good measure. But if you’re turning up to Inklings expecting some pathetic karaoke penny on the eyes wake, you’re completely barking up the wrong great Deku tree. Not a tribute act. It’s a cash-in-hand inheritance from a filthy-rich uncle… let's call him Uncle … Read more

If I Die Today

I Felt Nothing
Independent (2026)

Sometimes post-hardcore stops feeling emotional and just becomes noise for the sake of noise. If I Die Today understands that line better than most bands operating in this space. Their newest albume, I Felt Nothing is undeniably aggressive, messy, loud, and volatile, but underneath all the abrasion is a band with a very clear sense of purpose. This Northern Italian … Read more

Eddy Current Suppression Ring

In Light Of Recent Events
Suppression Records (2026)

Australian Neo-proto-punk garagerockers ECSR released 11 new songs in May without much, if any, fanfare and not as some marketing or PR stunt but because they seem to actually give zero fucks. If anything they are making a bit of effort to curb their success which includes multiple award nominations on their home turf including the Australian Music Prize for … Read more