Previous fans of Richey will undoubtedly like this new album. Similar to her other cds, the main theme on this disc is relationships, good or bad, or confusing. In the title track she laments "You’re like Chinese Boxes, one inside the other, inside the other…you’re like smoke and mirrors…magic spells..How am I to know?" One of the album standouts is "The Absence of Your Company," another relationship song where she sings "If you can tell me you won’t miss me, and sound convincing when you say you won’t miss me, I can walk away". Most of the songs are about the same medium speed and energy. The one faster tune on the album is also my favorite, "Not a Love Like This," where she is clearly ticked off. Even though there is not a great deal of variety in her music Kim Richey writes very nice, easy to listen to songs and certainly has a wonderful voice as well. If you like this, I strongly suggest her 1995 debut album as well.
Sep
13
2007
Category : Reviews
While this CD is short in length, less than thirty minutes, it is not short on quality. Opening up the CD is a rumpus tribute to the Sir Douglas Quartet with the title cut �It Came From San Antonio�. This upbeat hip shaker comes straight from the 60�s, with a lot of fun had by all.
Robison them slows it down with some of the best wistful melodies he has written. One can almost hear Dylan or James Taylor influences in the songs �When It Rains� and �My Baby Now�.
Of course it helps to have a wife like Kelly Willis, who can provide backup vocals. Willis shines in the song �What Makes You Say�, a slow ballad about a non-ending love. Robison and Willis do a masterful duet here.
While this CD might be short, it is certainly worthwhile. Robison has had success in writing songs other artists have recorded in the past. There are certainly some nuggets here which should be mined and heard by many.
Sep
13
2007
This third release by Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch and Fats Kaplin is yet another musically deep production from three seasoned performers. Featuring new songs from Kane and Welch along with empathic support from multi-instrumentalist Kaplin (electric sitar, accordian, fiddle, steel guitar, electric and acoustic guitar), this disc is filled with sweet melodies and thoughtful lyrics. And Kane�s haunting banjo permeates the disc as well, lending another interesting voice, especially when paired with Kaplin�s steel guitar on �Red Light Blinking� and electric sitar on �Highland Mary.�
This is between�the�cracks music; it isn�t just country or bluegrass or folk or blues, it�s all of the above and more. The music, like the three musicians making the music, adds up to far more than the sum of its parts. Kind of like the Elgin sausage sandwich with pickles in the buttered and toasted just-right bun I had at Hoover�s in Austin. Both cd and sandwich are highly recommended.
Sep
07
2007
This band is a full scale blues attack- horns, guitar, organ, piano and gritty vocals (think Roomful of Blues with female vocals); the kind of stuff you love to hear in a small blues club with the band on a small stage. Although I always feel this type of music is better live, this album definitely captures the energy and excitement of Teresa James. (She also has a live album available!) Most of these songs were written by her bassist (and husband) Terry Wilson. I like every cut on the album, especially the rockin’ opener "All Time Low." Other highlights are the slower "How Am I Going to Stop Loving You," and the closer "I Do My Drinkin’ on the Weekend." There truly is not a bad song in the bunch. If your ears are in need of some great blues, definitely pick up The Bottom Line.
