Margo Price made waves when she burst onto the scene in 2016 with her debut album Midwest Farmer’s Daughter. Far removed from the more polished edge of the Country spectrum, which dominates the charts at the moment, Price caught the attention of critics and fans for embracing traditional Country as a background for her smart lyrics. Almost 18 months after All American Made, Price released her second album All American Made.
In March Price will be in the UK to perform on the Main Stage at C2C: Country to Country 2018. Her inclusion in the line-up caught some off-guard but she’s a natural fit in a time when women may be being ignored at Country radio but they’re banding together and fighting back. All American Made kicks off with Don’t Say It, a song that packs a rip-roaring beat while Price tells a lover to stop saying things if they don’t really mean them. It’s a strong start to the record and reinforces that Price has something very different than many of the other artists in Country right now.
Lead single Weakness finds Price acknowledging that ‘sometimes my weakness is stronger than me’ as she tells the listener she’s her own worst enemy and that she’s hurt herself far more than any other person can. Despite the bold and frank lyrics, the song is a riot and it’s one that’s sure to be a hit at C2C next month.
Price’s knack for hitting the nail on the head continues throughout All American Made. Pay Gap tackles the inequality many women feel in the workplace, something that’s incredibly topical right now across the world, while the funky groove of Cocaine Cowboys tells the story of would-be cowboys that don’t even know how to ride a horse. The ballad Loner ponders the contradictions that life presents as Price ponders whether it may be easier to just be alone than bow down to the pressures of family, friends and society.
One of the standout moments on the record is Learning to Lose with Willie Nelson. The two singers unite on the chorus as they sing ‘won’t you tell me, is winning learning to lose’, which feels very poignant given the journey both artists have been on in their respective careers. The wisdom of Nelson’s vocals combines with Price’s lack of illusion about the difficulties of being an artist for a living.
Elsewhere on the album Heart of America comments on the interference of government in small towns, Wild Women points out the different standards men and women are held to, and title track All American Made deconstructs the idea of the American Dream while taking a knowing look at how America became the place it has.
Price may not be topping charts but she’s making people stand up and notice. She deserves to be on radio far more than she is and she’s a very gifted artist. Lyrically she’s in a league of her own, really embracing the heart of Country music. All American Made widens the lens past the self-reflecting stories of Midwest Farmer’s Daughter and in the process will likely garner Price even more attention.
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Track list: 1. Don’t Say It 2. Weakness 3. A Little Pain 4. Learning to Lose (feat Willie Nelson) 5. Pay Gap 6. Nowhere Fast 7. Cocaine Cowboys 8. Wild Women 9. Heart of America 10. Do Right By Me 11. Loner 12. All American Made Released by: Third Man Records Release date: 20th October 2017
