Margo Price Exits Third Man Records, Releases New Song
Margo Price is no longer signed with Jack White’s Third Man Records. One of the stalwarts of the Nashville wing of the independent label, Margo Price fulfilled her two-record deal with the company when her last record All American Made was released in October of 2017, and instead of re-upping with the company, has signed to Loma Vista Recordings, a division of the Concord Music Group.
Loma Vista (meaning “hill view” in Spanish) is a Beverly Hills and New York-based label that began as a joint venture between Interscope and Republic Records in 2012, and was acquired by Concord in 2014. A diverse label that also includes artists such as St. Vincent, Iggy Pop, and Common, Margo Price will be the label’s first country artist, and joins Andrew Bird and The Revivalists as the label’s roots-based performers.
Ahead of the release of her third record, Margo Price has unveiled a new song called “Stone Me” (listen below). The song was debuted as part of an extended segment on the TBS show Full Frontal with Samantha Bee addressing sexism in country music, which also featured Tanya Tucker, Brandi Carlie, and Mickey Guyton. Price also performed the new song on the program.
There is currently no name or release date for the new Margo Price record, though the album has been thought to be finished for well over a year, and is rumored to have been recorded in Los Angeles. Sturgill Simpson co-produced “Stone Me” with David Ferguson, and it was co-written with Margo’s husband and fellow performer Jeremy Ivey. The song features Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on piano, Pino Palladino on bass, James Gadson on drums, and Matt Sweeney on electric guitar. Margo Price has been sharing her frustration on the delay of releasing new music for a while.
“After what feels like an eternity, I’m releasing a new song into the wild today. It’s been hard to keep everything I’ve been working on for the last year to myself and I’m so excited to share it,” Margo Price says. More details on her new record when they become available.
January 16, 2020 @ 7:44 pm
I like the sound of this a lot. (I’m listening on my laptop speakers and it sounds really reverby but who cares.) I love the band!! The know how to play together. It doesn’t sound like a bunch of musicians thrown into a room, it sounds like a band. What a cool hook, too. Something to hang your hat on.
January 16, 2020 @ 7:47 pm
Not feeling this. I don’t know if it’s the production or her voice. It sounds like something playing in the background on a Netflix series.
January 16, 2020 @ 8:49 pm
Sounds like Margo’s deliberately arresting her (fucking amazing) voice.
She’s significantly more talented than Miranda…which means there’s no reason to ape her sound.
January 16, 2020 @ 8:56 pm
Liked her first album. Loved her EP and was excited for her second album until I realized what a bitter and angry person she is and that is now how I perceive her music.
January 16, 2020 @ 10:44 pm
I believe sexism in the music biz is exaggerated. There have been many great female music starts down through the years going back to Kitty Wells on the country side of the ledger and Jeanette MacDonald, who was probably our first female music superstar when all of music is considered.
January 17, 2020 @ 1:22 am
Men do not get hit on by music execs, get asked to look sexier on their album covers and videos, get asked to sound more girly etc…
January 17, 2020 @ 7:25 am
According to Maren Morris the problem is that women in country music aren’t allowed to be sexy or show off their bodies. Which is the truth?
January 17, 2020 @ 7:27 am
“Men do not get hit on by music execs…”
What if the execs are homosexual? Kirt Webster ring a bell?
January 17, 2020 @ 7:43 am
I ain’t a woman, but I’ve got a couple in my band, and the miles of extra shit they have to slog through compared to me frankly boggles the mind. Believe it Brian. The baseline level of toughness needed to be a woman in music (I think especially at the lower levels) is twice that of a man. Maybe even more considering this new breed of shrinking-violet sensitive indie boys that’s currently polluting roots music.
January 17, 2020 @ 10:23 am
Man believes sexism in the music biz is exaggerated, news at 11.
January 16, 2020 @ 10:49 pm
I am assuming this is due to her frequently political views? If not please correct me, but I also take issue with this and agree with you (even though I agree with her politics, for the most part).
I think this is a large problem with Americana music right now. The only way for the folks in this genre to get any airplay or good press is to write a political song they can send to the NPR’s of the world who will reward them for being “brave” or some other bullshit. Then they will proceed to play it, regardless of song quality (see Jason Isbell “White Man’s World”).
Since these artists have been struggling for so long to get recognition, when an opportunity presents itself, they jump on it faster than pigs in shit, through no fault of their own either! If I had been grinding for 10 years on the road with little recognition and you said to me “just write one political song and we can print a story about you” you know damn well I would do it too! And it is especially easy because their politics align with the “correct” politics of our time, so they don’t even have to consider it selling out. It is something they believe in, and I am not doubting anyone’s authenticity. I just wish we would stop rewarding mediocre songwriting simply because we appreciate the intent of the message.
Again, I’m a liberal, and I agree with these guys points of view. But I have no interest in being preached to by Patterson Hood or Hayes Carlo or Margo Price or Jason Isbell about how the world should be. However if it is a good song (see BJ Barham) I am all in! Song first, message second. It’s just preaching to the choir, give me “Drunken Poets Dream” over “Fragile Men” give me “Hands of Time” over “Pay Gap” etc. and not because I disagree with the message, but because they are simply better songs. Writing an Americana political song in 2020 is the equivalent of a bro-country checklist song circa 2015. It’s easy, it pays money, and you even get to be praised for your intellect while you do it.
January 16, 2020 @ 11:30 pm
Here here Grant!
Politics = polarizing, but the message of a good song is universal, even if the subject matter might be controversial on the surface. At this point, most everything in Americana is political, similar to country music after 9/11, and much of the music is just bad. It’s just a vehicle for venting anger, and even thought they’re patting themselves on the back for speaking out and sowing activism through music, it’s so terse, bitter, and frankly boring and predictable, the best you can do is preach to your choir. You’re not making measurable change in society or raising awareness of anything. But since most of the media agrees with the sentiments in these songs, they just go along with it, if not praise it above everything else.
I myself am completely apolitical, not as just some journalistic stance, but as a style of life. And I am becoming appalled by the rancor infecting Americana right now. It’s just making for bad art.
I’ve been quite critical of Margo Price’s recorded efforts over the years, including just the audio quality of her records, as some are complaining about here. But I also feel the need to caution that this is just the first song from her upcoming album. Let’s give this thing time and see how it turns out. Certainly a Margo Price release in 2020 will be a big focal point in independent country.
January 17, 2020 @ 6:07 am
I don’t really understand the conversation here…Trig and Grant, are you saying that people shouldn’t make any “political” songs, or simply that they shouldn’t make LOUSY “political” songs? I certainly agree with the latter.
What constitutes a political song? If “Pay Gap,” about the pay gap between men and women, is a political song, I’d think Emily Scott Robinson’s “The Dress,” about domestic violence, also would be characterized that way. It’s just that “The Dress” is a way, way better song.
Thanks.
January 17, 2020 @ 9:40 am
Exactly. “Pay Gap” makes a horrible case for itself by asserting downright incorrect facts, like saying the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America in 1776 was somehow the formalizing of women to be treated as “slaves” in American society and around the world. Meanwhile Emily Scott Robinson told a personal story that you couldn’t help but feel the power of and the unique challenges women face, even if you are a man. This is the power of music to shape hearts and minds, and by letting their anger get the best of them, many Americana artists right now are losing this power and opportunity for what boils down to fashion, social status among peers and constituents, and outright virtue signaling. They are pushing away if not outright insulting the people that often are the most needing to hear their message.
January 17, 2020 @ 7:42 am
Thanks Trig! Completely agree with you, it would be nice to hear some universality come back to the music. I’m almost nervous for the new Jason Isbell record. He is hands down one of the best writers of our generation, and I’m not sure what we are going to get.
Case in point, I was just driving in to work and I heard the Drive By Truckers new song on my local “NPR Hipster” radio station. This is a station that has never touched the Truckers before. They did the same thing with Isbell, first song I heard on this station of his played was “White Mans World”. I am sure this is happening nationwide. The powers that be see the money in Americana and are finding a way to cash in and stay “woke”
I just hope this tumor can get removed before it grows.
January 17, 2020 @ 9:24 am
Trigger,
I am not a know-it-all but some time ago I stated that was what Americana was becoming. And now it is.
January 17, 2020 @ 11:32 am
Trigger, since you’re talking about ‘asserting incorrect facts’, it was the Declaration of Independence that was signed in 1776 not the Constitution. A document which declared “All men are created equal”. No matter how you interpret that phrase, women have indeed been treated like second class citizens – contrary to the founding principle of the United States.
January 17, 2020 @ 12:02 pm
Charlie,
I apologize. I got my legal documents mixed up. But that actually bolsters my case even more. The idea that sexism didn’t exist on the North American continent or anywhere else until the Colonies declared their independence from Britain is absolutely ludicrous, and an insult to the offenses underpinning sexism, and erodes the arguments against it. The United States of America is a more liberal society with more rights and privileges afforded to women than 90% of the rest of the world, save for a few enclaves in Western Europe and other places. That’s not to say that sexism still doesn’t exist because of course it does. But to assert that it is a sin of America or was somehow institutionalized by it is insane and smacks of Western privilege and lack of perspective.
But again, to my deeper point: Margo’s attempt to assert an idea or convey a message was rendered inert, if not counter-productive because she allowed her anger (in this case, at America) to get in her kitchen. If you want an example of a good country song with a universal message, check out Margo Price’s “Hands of Time.” THAT is how a song should be written to convey a message we can all agree with.
January 17, 2020 @ 11:32 am
Politics and music have always mixed but it is goddamn difficult to write a good political song that isn’t a piece of shit. My personal philosophy is that if a song is essentially an essay or think piece shoehorned into musical form it should just die quietly in the pages of the lyric book. So on the rare occasion that I am inspired to write a political song my rule is that it has to be funny. Benchmarks for me are John Prine (“Your flag decal won’t get you into heaven anymore” and “Sam Stone”), Randy Newman (short people, rednecks), Tom Russell (who’s gonna build your wall?). Ironically I have a quasi political song I have started but not finished (some songs sit on the shelf for a bit) about Roger Stone going to prison and cobbling together his wardrobe from various commissary items so he can keep his batman villain look going on when he is in the hoosegow (though he probably will get pardoned so he doesn’t roll).
January 17, 2020 @ 12:32 pm
Trigger, song lyrics are subject to interpretation but I’m pretty sure Margo isn’t saying that sexism didn’t exist before 1776, she is saying that sexism (and other discrimination) has existed in the United States since the very birth of the United States (1776) despite the founding principle of “all men are created equal”. The very fact that the country was founded on this pronouncement of equality serves to highlight, to glaringly spotlight, the inequality. Lincoln and MLK made that point, among many others (including Margo Price).
I do like “Hands of Time”, I agree with you on that and I like autobiographical songs and story songs. But when you fault Margo for displaying her “anger at America” in a protest song, I don’t quite follow – I mean wasn’t Dylan showing some anger at America when he sang “you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone” – and I think that was a good song.
On a lighter note, you (probably) unintentionally said Margo “allowed her anger to get into her kitchen” – when you think about it, ‘an angry woman in her kitchen’ sounds a little like institutionalized sexism (I point this out lightheartedly, not as an accusation toward you).
January 17, 2020 @ 9:23 am
Grant,
I am a conservative but I agree with your sentiments 100%. Very well stated.
January 17, 2020 @ 5:06 pm
Isbell in particular seems to have done a lot of introspection and seems to be sincerely writing from a position of love and concern. I’ll take that kind of authenticity regardless of message.
January 17, 2020 @ 12:30 am
She does not sound “angry” to me at all. It’s about time someone addressed some of the subjects she sings about like women not getting paid the same amount as men for doing the same job. A good song is a good song and if it has a good message than even better. Politics and an artists viewpoints have been a part of music since the beginning of time.
January 17, 2020 @ 12:34 am
As for this song? Kind of boring although I’ve only listened twice. I do give her credit for not doing the same thing over and over but it sounds too dull like it could be anyone singing and playing. That being said it will probably be a hit! Haha!
January 17, 2020 @ 1:08 am
I’m not against a political song, but Pay Gap just wasn’t a good song – the melody was uninspired and the lyrics were too didactic. Margo has done some good songs, but very few artists can do political songs well and I’m not sure she’s one of them.
January 17, 2020 @ 1:50 am
I agree on all points. I do love the song “All American Made” although not when they speed it up and use the full band.
January 17, 2020 @ 7:23 am
“It’s about time someone addressed some of the subjects she sings about like women not getting paid the same amount as men for doing the same job.”
What job are we talking about?
January 17, 2020 @ 12:03 pm
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, here are a few: Entertainers and performers, and sports and related workers (median female makes 61.7% of the median male wage); Tool and die makers (61.6%); Financial clerks (61.5%); Railroad brake,signal, and switch operators (61.1%); Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents (61.1%); Metal and plastic extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders (59.5%); Engine and other machine assemblers (59.1%); Hazardous materials removal workers (57.9%); Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers (57.7%); Motor vehicle operators (56.9%); Structural iron and steel workers (56.9%); Funeral service managers (56.8%); Miscellaneous mathematical science occupations (56.5%); Semiconductor processors (56.2%); Bridge and lock tenders (55.8%); Transportation inspectors (55.7%); Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners (54.8%); Photographic process workers and processing machine operators (53.3%); Metal and plastic drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders (49.3% — “Tearing my dollars in half” as Margo Price says in the song); Financial specialists (49.2%); Survey researchers (48.7%); Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (47.1%); Metal and plastic model makers and patternmakers ((45.6%);Metal and plastic heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders (28.7%)
January 17, 2020 @ 2:18 pm
That’s all you can come up with?
January 16, 2020 @ 8:57 pm
No mention of Sturgill as co-producer?
January 16, 2020 @ 9:26 pm
We’ll they didn’t officially announce that yet, but I’m seeing that The Tennessean is reporting that now, so I guess I’ll add it to the story. Sort of been the worst keep secret behind-the-scenes for over a year now. They really should have included that in the official announcement to create more buzz. The release of this song has been weird. I think they moved it up to coincide with the Samantha Bee appearance, but they got no release date still, no further details, and no pre-order link.
January 17, 2020 @ 5:03 pm
After his last album and the production on Country Squier I’m feeling like less is more with SS.
January 17, 2020 @ 2:38 am
I’m loving the sound of this track ……musgrave-y , yola , miranda-ish 70’s kinda vibe .
but I don’t really like the song and the arrangement never gets off the ground .it could have used , at the very least , a lead instrument playing off margo’s surprisingly weak but likeable vocal …..
hmmmmm….
January 17, 2020 @ 8:24 am
Got to be honest that I was blown away with her debut record and was ok with the ep then disappointed with her second record. This song doesn’t do much for me but I will still listen to the album when released.
January 17, 2020 @ 8:39 am
Great first album, not so great EP, a so-so second album & “Stone Me” is a nice song.
No highlight. Will not make my playlist.
January 18, 2020 @ 1:08 pm
I loved Midwest Farmer’s Daughter and we saw her a couple of times when she was “blowing up” and the shows were really good. I liked parts of American Made.
The night after Trump won the election she sang
“We Shall Overcome”. Please. I don’t care what her politics are, but to appropriate an anthem of a truly oppressed group because her candidate didn’t win the election is a bit overwrought.
Still spin MFD some.
January 19, 2020 @ 8:44 pm
Does anybody actually enjoy her music? Or is just the idea of a young(ish) liberal female that was embraced and amplified by the corporate media? Nothing about Margo Inc. was sincere.
January 20, 2020 @ 4:58 pm
Agreed. Much better artists got less visibility without Jack White promoting them. When will Sarah Shook & the Disarmers have a new record out?
January 22, 2020 @ 7:20 am
In answer to your question, I enjoy her music (both recorded and live). In the very limited personal contact I’ve had with Margo Price and her husband Jeremy Ivey they both strike me as sincere, intelligent, sensitive, and very artistic people. They seem live more in the world of creativity and art than in any other world.
January 22, 2020 @ 8:52 am
Yep. I think her first album is very good and the second is pretty good, with some misfires (e.g., Pay Gap and the arrangement on All American Made). I saw her play a great show at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA a few years ago and met her after the show. Had a nice, natural conversation with her. I go to The Birchmere quite often and I can think of at least a couple of conversations I had with people at my table at subsequent shows who also saw that Margo show and their reaction was surprise at how great it was.
January 20, 2020 @ 10:00 am
Not bad, just sounds like a Jenny Lewis song without the punch and sass.
January 20, 2020 @ 4:55 pm
I loved the first album but everything since has been meh. This song is doing nothing for me. Got bored halfway through. I am not against political songs. I frankly don’t care what your song is about as long as it’s a good song. I think when the artist is really FEELING something – whatever it is – it is apparent, and they make a good song. On the other hand when they’re trying too hard to make a statement – political or otherwise – that is also apparent and the result is a mediocre song. Sing what you’re passionate about, and the rest will follow. Don’t force lyrics and tunes to be hip or jump on any bandwagon.
January 20, 2020 @ 5:00 pm
I wonder if the delay in releasing means there are some legal issues with leaving Third Man?