It seems like everybody is an expert in “protecting their peace” nowadays, preaching from their moss and crystal-covered pulpits about the benefits of mushroom tea and justifying Erewhon’s infamous price gouging (looking at you, $27 fruit container). The music industry is no different.

From pop beacon Ariana Grande safeguarding her energy on the blazing “yes, and?” to girl in red retracting her affections in protection of her extroverted gusto on “Too Much,” a variety of artists are spearheading the music industry’s crusade towards a sage-cleansed future akin to that of self-help books. Gone are the days of proclamatory love ballads and outward projections of intellect; rather, it is seemingly the romanticization of introspectiveness that warrants the attention of masses of listeners.

Aligned with this trend, acclaimed country singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves bolsters the popularization of the internal monologue on her sixth studio album, “Deeper Well,” which in its name alone connotes deepened peacefulness and self-love.

From a marketing and thematics stance, Musgraves is masterful. Complete with a candle collaboration, moss and sage-green aplenty, the singer (and likely her marketing team) has made it clear that the eclectic, technicolor fantasy of her past albums is no more, marking a shift in her maturity.

As for the record itself? It is unfortunately one of Musgraves’ less memorable endeavors, despite its stellar thematics.

Tracks such as “Sway,” “Lonely Millionaire” and “Anime Eyes” feel lyrically barren and blend together, as do many of the album’s songs, causing difficulty in remembrance from a listening standpoint. The record never really picks up or has a distinct turning point; it lacks the sonic and lyrical diversity this writer deems paramount to a truly good album.

Yet, while certain tracks flatline soporifically, others wax whimsical in an incense-dusted melange of whimsy and country roots.

A clear standout is the album’s opener, “Cardinal,” on which Musgraves questions if the titular bird is perhaps an omen sent from a higher power. In a similar vein of contemplating higher spiritual and religious powers, Musgraves ponders God’s existence on “The Architect,” directly questioning the supposed creator of all life, from grasping the simplistic roundness of an apple to the grandeur of sprawling landscapes.

Other highlights include “Heart of the Woods” and “Dinner with Friends,” both of which dictate Musgraves’ stream of consciousness accompanied by less inquisitive guitar tracks.

Despite these standouts, the record itself feels desultory at times. It lacks the recalcitrant verve ever present on Musgraves’ 2019 Grammy-winner, “Golden Hour.” Yet, while it’s easy to attribute the record’s sleepy lightheartedness to an attempt by Musgraves to jump on a trend, that’s not necessarily the truth.

“Deeper Well” comes as a followup to the singer’s 2021 divorce manifesto, “star-crossed,” which embodies a heavier thematic repertoire than its whimsical successor. Bearing that context in mind, how critically can we, as both listeners and outsiders, scrutinize Musgraves for her internal renaissance of mind, body and soul? Certainly not aggressively; on “Deeper Well,” Musgraves is noticeably gentle, a stark contrast from previous projects.

Perhaps the true moral of the story (album?) here is not that highly energetic exertions of moxie are the all-powerful solution to heartache. Instead, embracing the peace, quiet and vulnerability paramount to effective introspective healing is where true power lies.

By no means is “Deeper Well” Musgraves’ best work — perhaps that title is better awarded to “Golden Hour” — but it is amongst her most purposeful. From song to song, she takes her time configuring spiritual behemoths, from securing her energetic peace to conversing with God himself.

In a world plagued by sped-up TikTok audios and subsequently shortened attention spans, Musgraves’ eased pace and delicate musical treading deserves its respect as much as it asks listeners a crucial question: if, when all is said and done, all we have is ourselves, how will we find our deeper well?