Margo Price – Strays

There are so many great new alt-country ladies these days that it can be hard to keep up. But still, one of the leading lights has been Nashville’s (of course) Margo Price, who has managed to both show her heart and also her gut, never backing down, like on Strays.

Indeed, Strays opener “Been to the Mountain” is kind of a kiss-off to her haters (such as those country fans who tell musicians, particularly female musicians, to ‘keep politics out’ of their music – another version of, “Shut up a dribble”). And there is a heart-rending story on reproductive rights in “Lydia”. But this is also the singer/songwriter who can do a nice quiet/loud sly (with Sharon Van Etten) on “Radio”, and bring twang from a carrying loss (“County Road”) to relaxed charm (the following “Time Machine”).

Even as there is a banquet of country women to listen to these days, so many feel individually essential, baring the own story, such as Margo Price on Strays.