On her last few releases, Margo Price traveled west (Los Angeles, the desert) to find herself, primarily playing in the realm of 70s-tinged pop rock. Now, on her fifth studio album, she successfully returns to her roots, recording her first album in her hometown of Nashville, as Price’s outlaw-accented country sound rings heartfelt and true throughout Hard Headed Woman.
After a statement-making title track prelude, the boot-scooting country twang gets revved up with a classic in the making, as “Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down” is an album highlight. Inspired by Kris Kristofferson, the effort takes the spunk of Dolly Parton’s best efforts and filters it through Price’s urgent modern scope with memorable turns of phrases like, “Dudes lookin’ down their noses/Thinkin’ bullshit smells like roses/All the cocaine in existence/Couldn’t keep your nose out of my business”. The rest of the album might not be up to this level, but that is no shame, as “Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down” is one of the best country songs of the year.
Price returned to Nashville and producer Matt Ross-Spang, who worked with Price on her two best albums, Midwest Farmer’s Daughter and All-American Made. Price’s core backing band (The Price Tags) remains intact with Jamie Davis: guitars, Jeremy Ivey: multi-instrumentalist, Alec Newman: bass, Dillon Napier: drums, Russ Pahl: pedal steel and Billy Contreras: fiddle, lay the sonic foundation that was captured in the famous RCA Studio A, Nashville, Tenn. Price has mentioned ghosts of songs and songwriters past helping her out with the album, and there is a clear connection to Nashville in the 60’s sound.
The snapping snares and dueling guitars are the fuel for “Red Eye Flight”, smooth country rock, piano and slide guitar color “Losing Streak” while sweet brass work and tight groove propel “I Just Don’t Give A Damn”. Price also cuts back the rocking on the yearning/haunting “Keep A Picture” and the acoustic twinkling of the traveling tune “Nowhere is Where”. The heartfelt (bordering on sappy) love ballad “Close To You” shows off Price’s affecting emotional vocals wonderfully.
A few guests arrive as Jesse Welles supports Price vocally on the upbeat “Don’t Wake Me Up”, but it is Price’s duet with Tyler Childers that really feels like a success as “Love Me Like You Used To Do” recalls classic Nashville ballads. The record closes with a strong country rocker as Price and crew cover Waylon Jennings’ “Kissing You Goodbye” at the suggestion of Waylon’s widow Jessi Colter.
On That’s How Rumors Get Started and Strays, Price was clearly breaking away from her country/Americana past with less than stellar results. Hard Headed Woman is a much-needed return to form as Margo Price delivers dive bar dreams, honky-tonk heartache, and good old outlaw defiance throughout.
