Miranda Lambert throws in her “Wildcard”

Country music singer Miranda Lambert is no stranger to adding humor to her music and her latest album “Wildcard” is no exception.

RCA Records Nashville released Lambert’s seventh solo studio album on Nov. 1. entitled “Wildcard.” The album’s name remains true to Lambert and her rougher country sound. Compared to her “The Weight of These Wings” album released in 2016, “Wildcard” is more consistent with the sound that Lambert fans are used to hearing.

It’s official. My 7th solo album #Wildcard is out now. #7 #countrymusic Listen here: https://t.co/lBHgTze9Pv pic.twitter.com/xFNL82S53H

— Miranda Lambert (@mirandalambert) November 1, 2019

Lambert has never been a stranger to writing or picking songs that have humor to them. Not only does she do this solo, but with her band Pistol Annies as well. On “Wildcard” you can definitely find these token songs that make you chuckle. She does this right out the gate with the first track “White Trash.”

While the lyrics of “White Trash” joke about how Lambert can’t seem to hide her white trash roots despite her success and money, the song was a little odd to listen to instrumentally. The banjo and drum beat were pleasant enough, but after the first chorus a minute into the song there is a startling transition that will make one check to see if the track accidentally got skipped. The drums and banjo completely drop off and an entirely new guitar riff starts for about 10 seconds before everything returns to normal.

A little further into the album you find another nugget of humor. Fellow country musician Marren Morris collaborated with Lambert on track six “Way Too Pretty for Prison.” Morris and Lambert sing about how they are trying to get rid of the cheating man in their lives, but that their lives would be far from glamorous behind bars. The song has dark but comical elements that will remind you of the classic “Goodbye Earl” done by the Dixie Chicks in 1999.

“Locomotive” is track seven on the album. The versus figurative meaning in the song brings a splash of humor to the track. In the chorus of the song Lambert sings about her husband cooking her chicken, then a couple lines later she says he gives her wings leaving you; slightly unsure if she means that her husband figuratively gives her wings or literally brings her chicken wings. Either way it is a faster upbeat song that is definitely one to give a listen.

Going back in the album to track two, Lambert changes things up with “Mess with My Head.” This song calls out to the people who have experienced issues in their romantic lives with partners who toy with their heads and their emotions. The song has a funky sound both instrumentally and vocally, making it one of the more creative tracks on the album. “Mess with My Head” was released early as promotional single and charted in the U.S. at 45 for country music charts and sixth on the digital country charts.

Track three is one of Lambert’s singles for the album, “It All Comes Out in the Wash.” The premise behind the song is that no matter what drama happens or what stains your reputation it can all just be brushed off or “come out in the wash.” The song peaked on the U.S. charts at 22.

The 14-track album isn’t Lambert’s best album, but it is far from her worst. She highlights several key styles that she has stayed true to throughout her career that I feel were lost in her last album due to its length. The final track on the album, “Dark Bars,” was hands down my favorite from the album. For me personally I enjoyed the slow down and the darker tones of the song. If I had to pick a least favorite it would probably be “It All Comes Out in the Wash.” I didn’t hate the song but by the time the album was released I was over it.

“Wildcard” has yet to be ranked on the charts, but knowing Lambert’s popularity and following it is not likely to disappoint. I think this album will bring Lambert’s name back to the forefront of country music and stand as a reminder that she hasn’t taken a step back.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars