Maria McKee by Maria McKee:
I’d never come across Maria McKee, so I didn’t know what to expect, although that sense of anticipation didn’t last beyond a few bars of the opening track. That’s because there seem to be quite a few female vocalists singing this kind of slow-to-mid-tempo country/pop material. If I ever have more time and interest, I might try to work out how MMcK differs from Juice Newton, Linda Ortega or Lucinda Williams.
Having said that, Maria McKee is super-talented. She effectively wrote the whole album except for one well-chosen cover song; she has some great lyrics and an appealing voice, swinging from soft and vulnerable to a harder, down-but-still-fighting, edge.
Here are some quick track-by-track comments:
Spoiler for track-by-track:
I’ve Forgotten What...: A little disappointing as an opener, it lets you know straight up there there won't be any jazzy musical pyrotechnics on this album, thank you very much. Still, despite a certain predictability in the rhythm dept, the song has some endearingly honest observations, for e.g. in the verse that includes the admission, “It’s kind of hard to keep the mood up”
To Miss Someone: I found the sadness of this track more convincing when I ignored the official video of MMcK surrounded by soft-focus Victorian children. That lays out too plainly the fact that this is a deliberate confection to play on our feelings. But the song has another good line from MMcK: “I’m petrified of running out of things to do.”
Am I The Only One...: Another slightly generic country-songbird song, but with another great line: "One more smile's all I can fake"
Nobody’s Child: More pulling at our heartstrings, but a pretty slight track imo. Probably my least favorite.
Panic Beach: great title, and she really delivers on this one, with a much more biting attitude - even, as far as I can tell, dropping the F-word in her anger. Is this the same woman who was floating around in a ruffled dress with those Victorian children only 3 tracks back?! Listening to this song, Van Morrison came to mind for some reason, and I thought that yeah, this track is up there with that same convincing, soulful passion. A great song.
Can’t Pull The Wool...: same energy, same comparison with VM as previous track.
More Than A Heart...: very soulful singing and some nice guitar
This Property...: best track of the album for me, with a leaner mix of instruments, and at last a chance to hear a guitarist break free from the rather cloying musical backdrop on the rest of the album.The song also has a very welcome break in the rhythm, dropping down to almost zero at one point, before building back up again. I always like that effect in a song: is there a name for it, I wonder?
Breathe: the album takes a more serious turn, with violin. A romantic ballad with clear, melodic singing from MMcK. I imagine this being a popular track, though it's a bit too emotional for my liking - and again this is a track ill-served, imo, by the official video, which has MMcK emoting on a hilltop, Bronte style.
Has He Got...: Beautiful version of a Richard Thompson song, with delicate piano playing and sad lyrics
Drinkin' In My Sunday Dress: such a jump in style from the previous, I think it was a real mistake to put this song here: Should’ve finished the album with the lingering melancholy of “Has He Got…” instead of busting that mood completely.
So despite my negative comments at the start, I found plenty to like about this album. Thanks for the rec, TH
:
8/10