In this instance, Kacey Jones Sings Mickey Newbury, we aren't given the opportunity to discern anything about the nature of the music aside from the one-note interpretation Kacey Jones offers us. In spite of the musical variations, the bluesy "Apples Dipped In Candy" or the wistful "Ramblin' Blues", it's all delivered in a far too serious, almost melodramatic manner, robbing the songs of any humanity they may have.
Before this CD I had never heard any music by Mickey Newbury, so have nothing to compare the versions presented here against in terms of intent and meaning. Nor had I heard any of the work of Kacey Jones. There is no questioning the sincerity involved with this attempt to honor someone that Kacey obviously holds in high esteem. I just think it might have been better served by utilizing some of the people quoted in the notes singing Newbury's praises as direct participants instead of her singing all the material.
Given Kacey Jones' comedic background I would have expected a slightly lighter touch with her renditions of these songs, but unfortunately she has made the mistake of equating emotional truth with near-melodramatic presentation to the detriment of the material. Kacey Jones Sings Mickey Newbury does not strike me as a recording indicative of either her talents as a performer or Mickey's talents as a songwriter.
Article comments
1 - kriss wagner
Mr. Marcus: Seldom have I read a review that is riveting, insightful and clearly well-researched. Yours about Kacey Jones’ new album isn’t one of them. Rather, and against your grain, Kacey Jones Sings Mickey Newbury is a flawless presentation of the late songwriter’s thoughtful and often painful reflection of his world and the world of millions of us. Kacey takes great care to present his lyrics with appropriate vocals from soaring joy and hopefulness to alto-voiced dispair and resignation. Wisely understated, she allows Newbury’s lyrics and music to tell the stories, helping the listener understand them through an easy-to-listen-to, empathetic style, complimented by considerate, full-bodied arrangements.
Since you admittedly don’t know anything about her, I’ll help you by saying those familiar with her other works know her as a transplanted singer/songwriter/producer of global influence in the Country music industry. Recognized as an accomplished comedienne and writer of a sometimes biting, sometimes ironic and always experienced catalog of hundreds of songs, she adds the Newbury tunes to her repertoire of remarkable performances. As an accomplished musician and writer, Kacey knows good writing and, in this album, delivers the goods.
Your scathing, Thesaurus-dependent diatribe in which you admittedly hadn’t heard of Kacey or Mickey Newbury, went on for two pages, reaching a conclusion with no foundation and no background. When a reviewer takes the first 14 lines to apologize for his impending pan, a red flag should go up for the reader: This person doesn’t know what he’s talking about. On the other hand, Ron Wynn’s review in the Nashville City Paper is 14 lines start to finish, intelligent, incisive and, unlike yours, knowledgable.
Without tainting my observation with a repeat of your review, I will make just three points: First, you undertook reviewing an album which is clearly over your head. You sound incapable of stretching your narrowly-defined musical universe. I have read some of your reviews. You need to stay away from classy recordings like Kacey’s.
Second, you seem to have difficulty discerning one instrument from another (“…neutered pedal steel guitar”). Now, I’ve listened to Kacey’s CD at least 30 times edge to edge and I haven’t heard one pedal steel guitar, neutered or otherwise. Which validates my musical training since there isn’t a pedal steel guitar on any track.
Third, you strongly suggest that since Kacey’s several previous albums have been comedic, she should remain in that milleau . You also presume that Mr. Newbury, having “recorded most of his music in Nashville” automatically “makes him nominally a country musician” .
Since you are categorically pigeonholing Kacey and Mr. Newbury, I suggest that you, who have been described on-line as a “long-haired Canadian iconoclast”, should leave music reviews to those with open minds and write only about hockey.