Shape & Destroy
arrived in August of 2020, not long after
Ruston Kelly
announced his separation from his wife
Kacey Musgraves
. Given this public turmoil, there may be a temptation to view
Kelly
's second album through this prism, finding hints of heartbreak scattered throughout its 13 songs. That's not an accurate way of viewing the album, though.
Musgraves
appears on
, for one, and while there is a freeform melancholy floating throughout, the record is a balm, something to soothe during troubled times. Many of its songs are about interior journeys, a sentiment that neatly dovetails with how the album represents the first time
recorded music while sober. Certainly,
is markedly more focused than its 2018 predecessor
Dying Star
, less likely to drift into a neo-psychedelic haze.
remains enamored with music that seems designed to soundtrack the twilight. Apart from the sharply honed lyrics, every element on
is appealingly hazy -- tempos are slow and lazy, and guitars provide a soft bed for
's leathery voice. All this adds up to an album well-suited for moments of introspection, moments when a listener is searching for sustenance and reassurance somewhere outside of themselves. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine