With 2022’s Humble Quest, Maren Morris made her first true country album, shedding the R&B and soul of 2016’s Hero and the pop sheen of 2019’s GIRL in favor of earthier production and more narrative-driven songwriting. The deviation worked, earning widespread critical acclaim and lead single “Circles Around This Town” landing on a number of prominent year-end best-of lists. On this EP, Morris strips seven Humble Quest tracks down to their studs, offering an even more intimate experience of this era of her artistry. Fan favorite “Tall Guys,” a nod to Morris’ husband and fellow country artist Ryan Hurd, feels especially lively, with percussive acoustic guitar and piano giving the winking tune an extra dose of playfulness. A standout on the original LP, “I Can’t Love You Anymore” is vibrant and spry, even sounding, at times, more vital than its source material. And closer “What Would This World Do?”, which pays tribute to the late producer and Morris collaborator Busbee, is the project’s most touching moment, as the already intimate track finds Morris reaching a new level of vulnerability.