Miranda Lambert, ‘Palomino.’

For the last decade, Miranda Lambert has charted one of the most successful and interesting careers in country music. Between solo and collaborative projects, she’s released seven albums in the last 10 years, each a success in one form or another. She’s won Grammys for three different projects and after she divorced, Blake Shelton, she only got bigger and better.

In the last couple of years, she’s managed to create a seemingly effortless songwriting formula with frequent collaborators Jack Ingram and Jon Randall, penning hits like “Tin Man” and cuts like “Tequila Does.” In 2021 the trio released The Marfa Tapes, a terrific raw country music album, recorded live around a campfire in Marfa, Texas.

The songs from their collaboration have slowly been finding their albums, the first appearing on 2016’s The Weight Of These Wings, then a few more on 2019’s Wildcard. With Palomino, Lambert and co. re-recorded three more of those songs. From the rugged natural sounds of the Texas desert to being recorded and professionally mastered, it’s amazing how the songs were refined for a studio release.

These tracks include the upbeat “Geraldene,” where a stutter during the chorus makes for an excellent hook; and “Waxahachie,” a much more acoustic, subdued track where Lambert longs to return to the city. “Got enough gasoline, memories and nicotine/ Freedom’s overrated, yes I underestimated the truth/ And you/ Waxahachie are you still on 35,” she sings as her maps navigate her back for a 4 a.m. arrival. On “In His Arms” she’s a drifting tumbleweed, moving from man to man and wishing she’d just end up in the right one’s embrace.

These tracks fit perfectly into the restlessness of Palomino. While past albums have shown the married or heartbroken sides of Miranda Lambert, the new album is the opposite. Like the dust-beige-colored horse itself, the album is powerful and full of movement. It’s geographically scattered as Lambert refuses to settle down. On “Tourist,” she gives local bars a whirl, swapping stories and grabbing a beer. “There’s always been a stranger in my soul/ Who loves a good goodbye and a good hello,” she sings in the first verse.

She adopts an outlaw’s personality on her cover of Mick Jagger’s “Wandering Spirit,” while an electric guitar supports the consistent clapping in the background. “I’m a wandering spirit and I’m a restless soul,” she sings as deep-throated backing vocals echo hers. She challenges persistent gender norms for females in the Wild West on “If I Was A Cowboy.” While nipping on a whiskey to numb the feelings, she concludes that if she were indeed a cowboy, she’d make a queen of the role. Though catchy and socially progressive, it’s a strong song, even if it didn’t deserve to serve as the lead single.

And on the mid-tempo “Scenes,” Lambert paints pictures of what she sees as she drifts across the vastnesses of the country. She doesn’t care where she ends up, under crescent moons or another motel room, so long as she forgets about the man inspiring the song.

Palomino‘s single collaboration comes on spirited country jam “Music City Queen,” with the legendary B-52s, the group supporting Lambert with lively vocal clapbacks. “Life is but a dream” they sing as the showboat makes headway down the Cumberland River. We can only hope a live collaboration is in the works.

Lambert has managed a successful career as a singer-songwriter, as a modern-day Priscilla Presley and the collaborator you want if you’re trying to create a modern country hit. On Palomino, she’s as restless as ever, which is probably why her music has stayed so consistently strong.

Follow Domenic Strazzabosco at Twitter.com/domenicstrazz and Instagram.com/domenicstrazz.