5 Things I Like About This New Kacey Musgraves Song

Today I went to Muir Woods and walked through the redwood forest. I for sure felt like Ben Wyatt:

Honestly, for the rest of the day I’ve been in awe. There are trees that are 300+ feet tall. There are trees that are over a thousand years old. There is an area called Cathedral Grove where you are encouraged to remain silent and listen to the birds and the water and the forest. It’s amazing, and I recommend it if you have the opportunity.

One thing I thought of is the song “The Architect” off of Kacey Musgraves’ new album Deeper Well. If you haven’t heard it, here it is:

Here are 5 things I like about this song:

1. Kacey Musgraves is really good

I have to thank Kelly for this. Kacey’s album Golden Hour is one of Kelly’s regular go-to’s, so when Kacey released Deeper Well earlier this year I thought I’d listen to it on my own to have a personal connection to it before Kelly started playing it all the time and it became more of “her” music. I think Kacey is a very good songwriter, I love that her voice sounds familiar like that of an old friend, and I find that her lyrics paint simple, clear pictures that create profound feelings.

2. The wordplay with the title is excellent

The line “Can I speak to the architect?” plays differently each time. Sometimes it’s “My compliments to the chef,” sometimes it’s “Can I speak to the manager?” and sometimes it’s “Is anybody listening to me?” I think that is exceptional writing.

3. It leads with curiosity, which is interesting

I count 24 questions in the 3 minutes of this song, which makes for a lot of potential entry points for the listener, and I think it’s a very cool way to structure a song.

4. It reminds me of other songs I like

Here are two, choose your own adventure to listen to one, the other, both, or none.

The first is great and has some similarities in the technical rhythm of the chord changes and also the subject matter, but also it’s almost nine minutes long and loud, so I will understand if you stop when you get the point / are over it:

The second has clearer subject matter parallels, and also it’s a lot easier to like:

I think both of these songs are in the same family tree as “The Architect,” and I think that is a cool thing about music.

5. It’s surrounded by other really good songs on the album

I like “Anime Eyes” a whole lot. “Sway” is great. “Deeper Well” is a good single. I’m glad this is my album too and not just Kelly’s. And I am extremely grateful that I have great friends who brought me to the redwood forest.

Have an album you think I should listen to? jed@kindandfunny.com.