Review Summary: In a world of squares, maybe you're just round.
A tangible breath-of-fresh-air in the dreaded and effete world of country-pop -- partly from downsizing the whole pop-part to just the essential elements of instant gratification and infinite irresistibility, allowing pristinely superlative old-time-lean arrangements to flourish and shine. But mostly it's due to her smart songwriting and affable personality, i.e. she seems like an actual, even relatable, human: seemingly humbled by fame+travels and rooted to her roots, finding comfort in the simple things, determined to make it on her own, sneering at image-based pomp with Crown in her glass while her party-partner rolls one for two. Any hint of malice from said sneer of course eradicated by the sheepishly self-deprecating confessionals of high-heel klutziness and lacking manners. "I've tried to fake it but I can't", she readily admits, but integrity is a virtue she holds dear: "I'd rather lose for what I am than win for what I ain't".
And sure, the elementary cartoon-special life lessons can be grimace-worthy (top offender being sappy "Somebody to Love"), but her matter-of-fact humor and graceful phrasing consistently does the trick -- the mountain of metaphors for minding one's business on "Biscuits" ("Pouring salt in my sugar won't make yours any sweeter / Pissing in my yard ain't gonna make yours any greener"), the effortlessly sweeping bitter/sweet/black/green varietal of "Cup of Tea", the importance/toleration of Family ("They own too much wicker and drink too much liquor", "They might smoke like chimneys but give you their kidneys").
Elsewhere, she calls out a self-sabotaging curmudgeon in the prettiest way possible, salvages a YOLO-esque anthem from the clubs by downplaying the hell out of it, and covertly collaborates with the same name-dropped legend she once had her "picture made with". Not too bad for a dime store cowgirl.
