Kacey Musgraves comes in many ways from the same country tradition that gave us Loretta Lynn—self-made female country singers who write their own songs and often have a non-mainstream feminist bent to their lyrics. Musgraves gets a lot of credit for her “progressive” songs, but, while they might’ve been progressive in 1966, in 2016 they seem just quaint. You’re cool with marijuana? You don’t say! You’re okay with girls kissing girls? That’s, like, so brave! Her 2013 major-label debut, the Grammy-winning Same Trailer Different Park, introduced the young country-pop singer (emphasis on pop) with an ear for catchy hooks and clever turns-of-phrase. Her follow-up, last year’s Pageant Material, by-and-large follows the same formula—rocking the boat, but trying not to get wet. Even while asserting self-confidence and empowerment in a male-dominated industry, she remains frustratingly polite. Musgraves has already proven she can write a catchy tune; here’s hoping she soon takes the kid gloves off. SANTI ELIJAH HOLLEY