Kasey Chambers - Wayward Angel

When the buzz picks up momentum for an artist, it's kinda fun to put your ear to the ground and see what all of the fuss is about. A couple of years back Kasey Chambers put out Barricades & Brickwalls. I think I might have heard "Not Pretty Enough" on the radio. Then, as can happen, life got in the way and I forgot about her.

Then Wayward Angel shows up on my doorstep and, just a couple of songs into the first listen, I found myself wishing those two years or so hadn't been 'wasted'. Two years of not having that beautifully textured voice slipping into my ear canals.

Most of the print and internet talk about Chambers tends to make heavy use of two words: country and crossover. While it's true that her music contains elements of pop, folk and country, the 'crossover' label is misleading. First, given the sorry state of modern country music (with the 'country' bits usually consisting of a big hat, boots, weak lyrics and just maybe a few notes of pedal steel), those Nashville/CMT folks could learn a thing or two from this Australian talent. Second, the word 'crossover' sort of implies that the artist has made an effort to move in a particular direction. Chambers disagrees:

"I really don't consider myself to be a crossover artist because the way I approach music hasn't really changed. When you think about it — it's the audiences who are crossing over."

And cross over they should, because not only does Chambers have the voice (think Julie Miller, Natalie Maines and Lori McKenna), she's got a way with then pen as well (this coming from the "doesn't care about lyrics" guy.) For me, the killer tune is "Paper Aeroplane". It's written from the point of view of an aging widower...and the images brought tears to my eyes.

I'm just an old man
My hair is thinning
my head is spinning
I cry myself to sleep at night
And lordy lordy
though no one hears me
I know you're near me
You will always be my wife

The lyrics are sung with simply piano accompaniment, letting Chambers' voice whisper out the emotion. The final verse just slays me:

And I should've let you go by now
Yeah I should've let go by now
But I kept your brownies
And your golden honey
And I smell your flowers
And I saved your money
And I hold your blanket
Close for hours
And I painted my heart blue
And I did it all for you

I can see this happening to my father, or to me.

...And I'm listening to this song at this very moment, and I can't type another word.

(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)

Article Author: Mark Saleski

Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. He is an editor and writer for Jazz.com. He also writes reviews for Blogcritics.org and produces the weekly feature The Friday Morning Listen. …

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