Kacey Musgraves PAGEANT MATERIAL(LP)

If Kacey Musgraves didn't possess a sense of irony, there'd be a sense of triumph to Pageant Material, the title of her second album. Her first, 2013's Same Trailer Different Park, caused a sensation in certain quarters, racking up accolades that outweighed its sales -- a situation reflecting country radio's systematic resistance to female artists more than the music itself. Despite this conspicuous lack of hits, Pageant Material doesn't make concessions to commercial radio. It is of a piece with Same Trailer Different Park, partially because a chunk of it was written around the same time, partially because Musgraves decides to move forward by harnessing the subtlety of "Merry Go 'Round" and "Follow Your Arrow," using their understated folk as a touchstone for her sophomore set. Despite the briskness of the near-novelty "Biscuits" -- its chorus call of "Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy" revealing a taste for country corn somewhat at odds with a progressive reputation based