Calling
Humble Quest a pop move from
Maren Morris isn't inaccurate, but it doesn't tell the whole story, either. Ever since the 2016 release of her debut
Hero,
Morris existed within the hazy area separating country and pop, finding slightly more success within the confines of the latter than the former. Blame some of that on the tight restrictions of country radio, a format that did give
Maren Morris a few number one singles but is generally reluctant to make space for the kind of bright, genre-bending music she makes. On
Humble Quest, she leans into slicker surfaces and softer melodies, a shift toward adult alternative pop assisted by
Greg Kurstin, a member of the stylish retro duo
the Bird and the Bee who is better known as a producer for
Adele,
Beck, and
Paul McCartney. The change in collaborators came out of necessity for
Morris. A few months after the release of
Girl in 2019,
Busbee -- the chief producer and co-writer on both of
Morris' first albums -- died suddenly from brain cancer. It was one of many life changes
Morris underwent in 2019 and 2020, a period when she gave birth to her first child, experienced postpartum depression, and then isolation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. She doesn't shy away from any of these subjects on
Humble Quest, yet the record doesn't feel heavy. It's openhearted and reflective, never lingering too long on its melancholy moments and making sure to include such moments of levity as "Tall Guys," a spirited ode to lanky fellows that concludes with a jazzy twist. Such detours are rare on
Humble Quest, however. There's nothing as bracing or adventurous as "Rich" or "80s Mercedes"; it all operates on a sustained, sophisticated level where
Morris' blends of pop, country, R&B, and roots rock aren't exploratory, they're established. This isn't a detriment, though.
Humble Quest is a mature record in its approach in addition to its theme, a record that offers warm consolation in hours of trouble as well as breezy relaxation during the good times. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine