Pageant Material [LP] in Bloomington, MN

If
Kacey Musgraves
didn't possess a sense of irony, there'd be a sense of triumph to
Pageant Material
, the title of her second album. Her first, 2013's
Same Trailer Different Park
, caused a sensation in certain quarters, racking up accolades that outweighed its sales -- a situation reflecting country radio's systematic resistance to female artists more than the music itself. Despite this conspicuous lack of hits,
doesn't make concessions to commercial radio. It is of a piece with
, partially because a chunk of it was written around the same time, partially because
Musgraves
decides to move forward by harnessing the subtlety of "Merry Go 'Round" and "Follow Your Arrow," using their understated folk as a touchstone for her sophomore set. Despite the briskness of the near-novelty "Biscuits" -- its chorus call of "Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy" revealing a taste for country corn somewhat at odds with a progressive reputation based on the all-inclusive "Follow Your Arrow," not to mention her fondness for weed (a predilection that resurfaces elsewhere here) --
favors softness, sometimes nearly swooning in its slowness, especially on the gorgeous keynote "High Time" and the closer "Fine," both so deliberate and hazy they evoke memories of lazy high-school dances. This lush sound is old-fashioned but, despite her stated rebellion and taste for weed, much of
' sensibility is fairly traditional. She and her collaborators -- usually co-producers
Shane McAnally
and
Luke Laird
, but
Brandy Clark
,
Josh Osborne
, and
Natalie Hemby
also bear credits -- concentrate on sculpting songs, tunes so subtle they benefit from the pretty, shaded production. Not all of
sustains this delicately textured blend of song and sounds -- apart from "Biscuits," she stumbles when she gets lighter, particularly on "Family Is Family," where it seems like she can't wait to be rid of those leeches -- but it's hardly enough to prevent the album from being a rich, enchanting collection of stories, confessions, and the occasional joke. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine