Midwest farmer’s daughter

Description

First impressions matter. Especially on a debut album. Attention-starved listeners size up an artist in a song or two, then move on or venture further. Fortunately, it only takes twenty-eight seconds for Margo Price to convince you that you’re hearing the arrival of a singular new talent. “Hands of Time,” the first track from Midwest Farmer's Daughter, is an invitation, a mission statement, and a poetic summary of the 32-year-old singer’s life, all in one knockout punch. After a groove of stick, bass, and atmospheric guitar, when Price sings that she finds herself out on the street with fifty-seven dollars in her pocket, it feels like the opening sentence of a great novel or an opening scene in a classic film. There is anticipation, a budding excitement. And as the song takes shape, Price recalls hardships and heartbreaks — the loss of the family farm, the death of her child, troubles with men and alcohol. There is no self-pity or over-emotion. Her voice has that seductive blend of vulnerability and resilience that once belonged to Loretta and Dolly. It’s a vivid, moving, and sincere tour de force. Whether it’s “About To Find Out,” “This Town Gets Around,” a rockabilly number, or “Hurtin' (On The Bottle),” Price adds a breath of fresh air to classic Nashville country, with a sound that could have found success in any decade. The blues grooves of “Four Years of Chances” and “Tennessee Song” push the boundaries farther west toward Memphis, the album having been recorded at the legendary Sun Studio.