Riding High On Low Expectations

Margo Price “Hurtin’ (On the Bottle)”

Margo Price is, to put it very mildly, working within a tradition. She’s aiming for Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton, and for the most part, she nails it. And that, of course, is a success in and of itself – Lynn and Parton are both exceptional singers with big personalities, and their songcraft is immaculate. Price’s songs, particularly this single, are immediately catchy and charming in that sort of casual, low-key funny way that American country music does better than any other genre. Price’s fundamentals are unimpeachable, but it’s harder to get a read on what makes her distinct, and not just the contemporary iteration of a long-established brand. This is a bit like franchise movies – everyone is going to be on board with a competent version of, say, Star Wars or Batman or James Bond, but you always hope that in addition to giving you the core elements you’ve come to expect from those characters, there’s some fresh take on it. I’m not saying Price isn’t bringing that to the table, but I haven’t been able to figure out what that x factor could be just yet. Seriously great song, though!

Buy it from Amazon.