Behind the Number Two Door...
...in today's new listening, this fresh outing for Saint Maria of McKee, the woman who's had more incarnations than Doctor Who.
This is her best outing for ten years or more, since the George Drakoulias-produced effort of the early 1990s. Since that time, she's released a couple of records bereft of decent tunes, hamstrung by a determinedly indie style of production and packaging.
With the best will in the world, I just couldn't bear to listen.
Back when I was largely ignorant of the world of female (country) vocals, I found Maria McKee's voice awe-inspiring. Particularly, live, I didn't think anyone could possibly belt 'em out like her.
Times change, and I guess Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Lari White, Joy Lynn White and Natalie out of the Dixie Chicks all give her a run for her money. They have the advantage, too, of the pick of great songs from great songwriters, while Ms McKee mostly sticks to her own material: a weakness.
So what's this one like? Still a fairly home-brewed production, but with a stronger set of songs. Some of it sounded pretty good, so it's certainly going to repay further listens. I'd still say there aren't any belting good tunes on this one (like "You Gotta Sin To Get Saved" etc), but it's definitely got more inthe way of melody than of late.
On the other hand, that voice, perhaps lacking the exercise she was giving it in the 80s and early 90s (or perhaps because of all the live dates in smoky clubs), isn't what it was. It's still good at times, but there's more yelping and yodelly type sounds than I'm strictly comfortable with.
Still, like Shelby Lynne, whose album is out towards the end of the month, you gotta support Maria, even if you end up selling it on.
This is her best outing for ten years or more, since the George Drakoulias-produced effort of the early 1990s. Since that time, she's released a couple of records bereft of decent tunes, hamstrung by a determinedly indie style of production and packaging.
With the best will in the world, I just couldn't bear to listen.
Back when I was largely ignorant of the world of female (country) vocals, I found Maria McKee's voice awe-inspiring. Particularly, live, I didn't think anyone could possibly belt 'em out like her.
Times change, and I guess Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Lari White, Joy Lynn White and Natalie out of the Dixie Chicks all give her a run for her money. They have the advantage, too, of the pick of great songs from great songwriters, while Ms McKee mostly sticks to her own material: a weakness.
So what's this one like? Still a fairly home-brewed production, but with a stronger set of songs. Some of it sounded pretty good, so it's certainly going to repay further listens. I'd still say there aren't any belting good tunes on this one (like "You Gotta Sin To Get Saved" etc), but it's definitely got more inthe way of melody than of late.
On the other hand, that voice, perhaps lacking the exercise she was giving it in the 80s and early 90s (or perhaps because of all the live dates in smoky clubs), isn't what it was. It's still good at times, but there's more yelping and yodelly type sounds than I'm strictly comfortable with.
Still, like Shelby Lynne, whose album is out towards the end of the month, you gotta support Maria, even if you end up selling it on.
posted by Anonymous at
Thursday, May 05, 2005
1 Comments:
Good to read that others are on to Maria. Just saw her, read my review: http://paliughis.blogspot.com/
By
Pigman, at 4:17 pm
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