Humble Quest is the third studio album by American country music singer and songwriter Maren Morris. The album was released on March 25, 2022, through Columbia Nashville.[1][2] The album earned three nominations at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, including for Best Country Album, while the lead single "Circles Around This Town" was nominated for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance.[3]
| Humble Quest | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 25, 2022 | |||
| Genre | Country pop | |||
| Length | 37:28 | |||
| Label | Columbia Nashville | |||
| Producer | Greg Kurstin | |||
| Maren Morris chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Humble Quest | ||||
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Composition and themes
editMorris is a co-writer on all eleven tracks, collaborating with Sarah Aarons, Julia Michaels, Ryan Hurd, Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose. Production was handled by Greg Kurstin.[4][5][6] In an interview by NPR, Morris explained the meaning and title of the project:[7]
"I always thought that was such an interesting word, because it does mean that you're grounded and you don't have a big head about something – but I think that for me, over the last two years, that word has changed. I think it means you're the closest to your compass that you've ever been. It's not for public consumption of how relatable you are. [...] I think taking that power back with that word is why I wrote the song "Humble Quest" – how it's going to be an ongoing conversation and journey and will probably never end. And I'm okay with that. We're all just awkwardly feeling our way through this weird world."
The song “What Would This World Do” is a tribute to Michael Busbee, the producer who worked on each of Morris’ previous records and died from brain cancer in 2019.[8]
Release and promotion
editThe album's lead single "Circles Around This Town" was released on January 7, 2022.[9] "I Can't Love You Anymore" was released as the album's second single on September 26, 2022.[10]
On November 4, 2022, Morris released a companion album, Humble Quest: In Rare Form, featuring stripped-back versions of seven of the album's tracks.[11]
Reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 81/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[13] |
| Pitchfork | 8.0/10[14] |
| Rolling Stone |  [15] |
Sam Sodomsky by Pitchfork defined the album "creatively adventurous" pointing out that "the gentle approach of Humble Quest feels antithetical to the dominating trends of today’s pop music", because in the album "Morris sounds mostly pleased to be herself".[8] Writing for Consequence Mary Siroky find out that it is "a more organic record than its predecessor; [...] attributes both to the no-pressure timeline while writing the tracks and the distance from Nashville" and that the album "offers chances for longtime listeners to enjoy some of the things for which Morris has become so beloved" as of "authenticity, massive vocals, and a bit of lyrical playfulness".[16] Billboard wrote that the production is "intimacy permeates the often subtle" witch let the "listener into different corners of her world" becoming "her most inviting work".[17]
Accolades
edit| Year | Ceremony | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | CMA Awards | Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Grammy Awards | Best Country Album | Nominated |
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Circles Around This Town" | 3:15 | |
| 2. | "The Furthest Thing" |
| 3:53 |
| 3. | "I Can't Love You Anymore" |
| 2:49 |
| 4. | "Humble Quest" |
| 3:24 |
| 5. | "Background Music" |
| 3:34 |
| 6. | "Nervous" |
| 2:55 |
| 7. | "Tall Guys" |
| 2:43 |
| 8. | "Detour" |
| 4:07 |
| 9. | "Hummingbird" | 3:19 | |
| 10. | "Good Friends" |
| 3:28 |
| 11. | "What Would This World Do?" |
| 4:01 |
| Total length: | 37:28 | ||
Personnel
editMusicians
- Rich Hinman – pedal steel guitar
- Ryan Hurd – background vocals
- Greg Kurstin – acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, electric guitar, Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, keyboards, percussion, piano, Wurlitzer
- Bennett Lewis – Dobro, mandolin
- Julia Michaels – background vocals on "Circles Around This Town"
- Maren Morris – lead vocals, background vocals
Technical
- Greg Kurstin – production, engineering
- Randy Merrill – mastering
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Julian Burg – engineering
- Jimmy Robbins – engineering
- Matt Tuggle – engineering
- Alberto Vaz – engineering
- Bryce Bordone – mix engineering
Visuals
- Harper Smith – creative direction, package design, photography
Commercial success
editHumble Quest makes the Guinness World Records for most first-day and first-week streams for a country album by a female artist on Amazon Music.[20]
Charts
edit| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[21] | 60 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[22] | 28 |
| UK Country Albums (OCC)[23] | 3 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[24] | 24 |
| US Billboard 200[25] | 21 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[26] | 2 |
References
edit- ^ Freeman, Jon (2022-01-13). "Maren Morris Embarks on a 'Humble Quest' With New Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
- ^ Coscarelli, Joe (January 13, 2022). "Maren Morris, a Pop-Curious Hitmaker, Is Country, After All". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
- ^ Jones, Damian (November 15, 2022). "Grammys nominations 2023: Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Adele and Harry Styles score the most nods". NME. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- ^ Vanderhoof, Erin (March 25, 2022). "Maren Morris Is Sending You on a Humble Quest With a Set of Spotify Tarot Cards". Vanity Fair. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ Hughes, Hilary (March 23, 2022). "Maren Morris Is Learning to Let Go". Vulture. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Hyman, Dan (March 25, 2022). "How Maren Morris Reconnected With Her Country Roots On Her New Album". GQ. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ Harrell, Phil (March 25, 2022). "With 'Humble Quest,' Maren Morris is closely following her compass". NPR. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ a b Sodomsky, Sam (March 28, 2022). "Maren Morris Is Fresh Out of Give-a-Shit". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ Freeman, Jon (January 7, 2022). "Maren Morris Survives the Nashville Hustle in New Song 'Circles Around This Town'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
- ^ "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". All Access. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
- ^ Anderson, Liza (2022-11-04). "Maren Morris Uncovers 'Humble Quest: In Rare Form'". Music Row. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (March 22, 2022). "Maren Morris– Humble Quest Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ Gomez, Patrick (March 25, 2022). "Humble Quest review: Maren Morris' impressive latest is far more ambitious than its title suggests". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ Hermes, Will (March 26, 2022). "Maren Morris: Humble Quest Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (March 22, 2022). "Maren Morris Finds A Path Away From the Middle on 'Humble Quest'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ Siroky, Mary (March 24, 2022). "Maren Morris on Finding Her Light Amid the Chaos With New Album 'Humble Quest'". Consequence. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ Nicholson, Jessica; Newman, Melinda (March 25, 2022). "Every Song Ranked on Maren Morris' New Album, 'Humble Quest'". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ "CMA 2022 Nominees". cmawards.com. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 2023: The Full List of Nominees". The New York Times. 2022-11-15. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
- ^ Highfill, Samantha (August 7, 2022). "Maren Morris wants 'Humble Quest' to make you feel hopeful". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ "Maren Morris Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ "Maren Morris Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Maren Morris Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.