by Lenny Beer and Simon Glickman

Remember when you delved into the last Adele album and were stunned to find that every track on the album was great? The sheer consistency of the material was as impressive as any individual song. Regardless of format, 21 instantly took its place in the pantheon of timeless pop music—a rare feat indeed.

Well, another release that maintains that level of consistent brilliance has landed on our desk: Kacey Musgraves’ masterful new album, Pageant Material (Mercury Nashville).

For a record of such creative ambition and thematic clarity, it’s notable that this Pageant opens with a dreamy song about kicking back and sparking a joint.

Read the rest here.