Thorn in My Heart defies easy categorization and may be overlooked by country radio for being too rootsy, Americana fans for being too sophisticated, folk fans for being too literary, etc. However, this very lack of boundaries is the record’s greatest strength. Richey doesn’t try to fit in. In other words, she knows that money, love, and hurt comes and goes, but the heart remains. Sometimes it’s best not to try and pull out the barb. “La la la,” Richey sings, “la la la.” She’s not done with living. A heartache still beats without having a heart.
