Review: Justyna Kelley - Over The Moon

Justyna Kelley - Over The Moon
2010, Iconique Music Group

Justyna Kelley grew up in Nashville, in a household where jam sessions were as much a part of family play time as anything else. Kelley appears to have been groomed for a career in music, but it's her passion for music that makes her special. Kelley's debut album, Over The Moon, features the sort of Country/Pop/Adult Contemporary crossover appeal you'd expect from Carrie Underwood, Shania Twain or Faith Hill. Produced by David Kershenbaum (Joe Jackson, Tracy Chapman), Kevin Killen (U2, Peter Gabriel, Shawn Colvin) and Guy Eckstine (Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jeff Lorber), Over The Moon features ten songs worth of smooth radio-friendly country/pop and rock.

Over The Moon opens with "Once In A While", a musical monologue from one who feels forgotten in a relationship. "Once In A While" is a classic modern country ballad; Kelley delivers the song with a grace and dignity that will surprise you. It's a great opening song that is likely to have mild radio success but will fit nicely into the wonderful world of licensing. "The One I Love" is a happy mid-tempo country/pop gem. This song could be a hit on either side of the Country/Pop divide, with a chorus that will get stuck in your brain and refuse to leave. Kelley has a cultured country alto voice that is appealing; just a hint of sultry attitude hidden behind a wall of sweetness that suggests "girl next door" qualities. "Pushover" finds Kelley drifting more into the realm of Rock N Roll in a kiss off song to a friend who isn't really. It's a song of strength, of standing up for yourself. Kelley's delivery is solid, but perhaps a bit short on the anger that runs through the song.

"Over The Moon" is full of the starlight and effervescence of new love. Kelley's smooth delivery can't diminish the utter joy this song conveys, and the sweet sound of her upper range perhaps makes the song even more endearing. This one could be a bonafide pop and country hit. "Shoulda Known" is the sort of generic Pop/Country that seems to do well on commercial radio but is quickly forgotten; a decent enough song but just not something that will stick with you. Kelley puts her pop shoes on for "Have You Seen Him?” combining elements of 1980's pop, rock and country for a solid tune with commercial legs. Kelley shines on the Diane Warren-penned "Life's Like That", navigating the soaring chorus with essential grace. Kelley says goodnight with "Emily", obsessing over her man's ex-girlfriend and whether she might still be on his mind. The song is an awkward closer, at best. I suspect it was included to show a different side of Justyna Kelley, but in the end it may have been more of a disservice to Kelley than anything else.

Justyna Kelley has a gorgeous voice, and reflects a poise and comfort on this recording that suggests a highly professional performer. Over The Moon suggests that no matter how pretty her voice may be, Kelley's isn't a powerful sound. This limits the range of material available to her, certainly, but not all of the material on Over The Moon was well chosen for her voice. Kelley can certainly deliver solid Pop tunes with appeal, and working in the circles she's in she's nearly guaranteed at least a modicum of success. Over The Moon has some strong moments, but never truly soars.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Justyna Kelley at http://www.justynakelley.com/ or www.myspace.com/justynakelley. No full album is availble yet, but you can download individual tracks from Justyna Kelley on Amazon.com.

Review: Ali Gray - Johnson Street

Ali Gray - Johnson Street
2009, Starlilly Records

Minnesota native Ali Gray flies in the face of convention. Her first album, Let You In was roots rock with a country feel. Recorded with producer Patrik Tanner, Let You In had Ali Gray on track to run with the likes of Martina McBride and Faith Hill. Gray's apparently never heard that success tends to breed conformity, so when she set out to record her sophomore album, Johnson Street, Gray decided to go for more of a Rock N Roll sound. Drawing on a mid-western sensibility, a little bit of that Americana feel and some good old fashioned classic Rock N Roll, Gray has fashioned an album that should do more than just compete for a spot on year end lists.

Gray comes roaring out of the box with an unrepentant kiss-off song with a bit of blues-rock guitar in its ancestry in Out Of My Way. Gray has the clear tone of a Faith Hill while having a bit of that rough-road quality that Bonnie Raitt brings to the fore. This is one rocking song and is stylistically ambiguous enough to have a shot at crossing over between Rock and Country formats. (You'll Never Make A) Mrs. Out Of Me is kiss-off song, part two. Less brazen than Out Of My Way, Mrs. Out Of Me is more cutting and personal; a great tune with a melody you'll want to sing along to. Till The Stars Go Away would make a great radio single, sounding like it stepped right out of the 1980's. The song is very catchy and memorable and isn't fluffy like your typical Pop/Rock song. Gray goes for reverie and longing on Dream You Again, and her voice takes flight on a song that sounds like it could be a classic.

Devil's Angels is a rockin' Country anthem for a night out on the town for a group of young ladies. The hook in the chorus will get stuck in your noggin and drag you along in spite of yourself. This song, with the right push, takes over country radio for several weeks, settling in somewhere near the top of the radio charts. Bank on it. Your Dreams is a rueful look at a relationship where dreams aren't shared but conflict one with the other. The narrator here decides to walk away, fully in love with the man, but knowing its best for both of them to have what they want, if not who. Come Over Again could be the logical epilogue, or a "transitional man song". The relationship in this song isn't about love but about hiding from and maybe even healing from a broken heart. Keys And Kisses is a song about making a clean break from an unfulfilling relationship. Gray recounts all that she's put into the relationship and what little she gets out. The arrangement is pure Pop/Country and may have real commercial legs.

If You Love Me is another surefire hit. It's a Pop/Rock love song with a bit of health skepticism woven in. The song is catchy with a memorable melody; the sort you walk around humming for the rest of the day after first hearing the song. Pretty Cameo Star sounds like the theme song of the "other woman", the one perpetually in the background who likely wants something more. Full of melancholy and regret, she longs for her moment in the sun. If Devil's Angels is an anthem for the younger set, Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad might be a theme for the disaffected married ladies in the crowd. The narrator has tired of seeing her husband running around on the seedier side of light and decides that if that's what he wants, it's exactly what he's going to get. The same young ladies that would have raised their glasses to Devil's Angels twenty years ago will be whooping it up to this one.

One of the reasons I write this blog is that every so often an unknown artist comes out of left field and simply blows you away. There are talented folks all over the world writing songs in notebooks while they hold down day jobs, and some of them are even making music on a local or regional basis. Talents like Ali Gray, while rare, do exist and deserve to heard be larger audiences than they might attract in their home markets. Johnson Street is a breath of fresh air, bouncing back and forth between Country, Pop and Blues-driven Rock. Gray has a mesmerizing voice; the sort that other artists long to be compared to. The songwriting on Johnson Street is superb, and the weakest songs might have a shot at radio play. Check out Johnson Street; this sort of album doesn't happen every day. Johnson Street is Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Ali Gray at http://www.aligray.com/ or www.myspace.com/aligray. Johnson Street will be released on November 19, 2009. You can purchase a copy of Johnson Street from CDBaby.com. Ali Gray will be celebrating the release of Johnson Street with a release party at The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Thursday, November 19, 2009. If you're in town you might want to check out the show.

Review: Katie Garibaldi - Next Ride Out

Katie Garibaldi - Next Ride Out
2009, Living Dream Music

San Francisco's Katie Garibaldi released her sixth album, Next Ride Out, in June of 2009, a stunning feat considering Garibaldi is all of twenty-five years old. Garibaldi is a prodigious songwriter and engaging performer and finds time in-between to run her own record label, Living Dream Music. Produced by Guitar Player Magazine Editor-In-Chief Michael Molenda, and displays Garibaldi's eclectic mix of Rock, Country and Folk that's as Americana as they come, while also showing a more personal and more mature side of Garibaldi than we've seen in the past.

Following in the footsteps of artists like Ani DiFranco, Garibaldi controls all of her material and her own musical destiny. That comfort and self-assuredness comes through on Next Ride Out. Garibaldi opens with Say The Word, a song of love and devotion that's sweet and sultry and innocent all at once. It's major mix-tape material and seems like a perfect candidate for country and pop radio in spite of the girl-next-door aura the song carries. Hey, Hey Darlin' is a fun little country tune about love and the truly important things in a relationship from the perspective of someone who's nearly lost what they had in that department. Garibaldi breaks out the funk on A Love Without Chains, a dark and slinky tune with a seriously soulful vocal line. Without Trying So Hard looks back at a failed relationship that's deeply bittersweet. Garibaldi is at her most vulnerable here as a performer, delivering a musical soliloquy that could have walked right out of musical with deep emotion and a grace that is compelling.

You've Already Got Me gets back to the Americana sound with a sweet song of assurance that just asks for the time to allow emotions and bonds to grow in their own order. It's an incredibly mature and intelligent bit of writing that runs entirely counter to the sort of glitz-and-ditz that passes for love songs on commercial country radio. Nothing Good Lasts digs into a healthy slice of cynicism about a beau in a classic Country/Rock arrangement. This is probably the most "commercial" track on the disc. I Owe You Nothing is a down-tempo country anthem for those whose hearts have been toyed with, featuring strong songwriting and a melody that will sit in the back of your mind and remind you repeatedly that it's there. Next Ride Out closes out with Falling For You, the sort of ballad that Nashville producers drool over. Garibaldi outdoes herself with a performance that should seriously raise her profile in the country music world.

Katie Garibaldi just keeps getting better with time; the girl next door with a magical talent and an affable delivery will turn a lot of heads with Next Ride Out. Her song Falling For You is going to be a serious hit for someone, whether it's Garibaldi or someone else covering it down the road is the only question. Talent like this needs to be heard outside of the Northwest US and Texas. If you're a fan of Country or Americana music, Katie Garibaldi is a must-hear artist.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Katie Garibaldi at http://www.katiegaribaldi.com/ or http://www.livingdreammusic.com/. You can purchase Next Ride Out on CD or as a download at www.cdbaby.com/cd/garibaldi4.

Review: Jeremy & Rebecca - What We Leave Behind

Jeremy & Rebecca - What We Leave Behind
2009, Dwelling Records

He's a marketing director. She's an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher. They're married and have a family. One could understand if Jeremy & Rebecca Hendrickson never quite had time for a music career, but this is no ordinary duo. Jeremy & Rebecca set out to write songs with positive themes and uplifting content/sounds; the same sort of appeal that went into old time variety shows and family movies. The sounds are updated for today, but the spirit is good old fashioned family entertainment. What We Leave Behind is a stunning album of feel good moments buoyed by Jeremy Hendrickson's solid songwriting and Rebecca Hendrickson's dazzling voice.

Jeremy & Rebecca created What We Leave Behind without financial backing from a label or anyone else, relying on Visa and MasterCard to see the album completed. Working from a wish-list of music veterans, Jeremy & Rebecca managed to put together a recording ensemble of folks who've previously worked with the likes of Eric Clapton, Mariah Carey, Faith Hill, John Mayer, Chicago, Mary J. Blige and Rascal Flatts. In much the same way that an independent film production can create a sense of magic among cast and crew, something special occurred in the process of recording What We Leave Behind. The sense of joy that flows off the CD is accompanied by a cohesion that goes beyond professional into personal.

What We Leave Behind opens with Fool, a rockin' country love song about getting caught up in love. Rebecca Hendrickson takes lead vocals here and quickly proves to be one of the most dynamic country vocalists I've heard in a while. With a sultry, powerful voice that can cross the lines from country to R&B while passing through Rock, Jazz and The Blues, Rebecca could sing the phone book and have folks lined up to listen. Flyer takes a left turn into the disco era with a song that could have topped the charts back in disco's heyday. Never ones to sit still, stylistically, the duo launches into What We Leave Behind, a down-tempo blues tune that introduces us to Jeremy's voice for the first time in a duet with Rebecca. Jeremy's voice is one of clear, pure tone with an honestly emotive sound. The positive message here is undeniably, born from any one of a number of religions or theologies, that immortality is achieved not through your own accomplishments but in how you make the world around you better.

Feels Like The Heavens is a love song that sounds like it could have been an R&B/Pop hit in the 1980's. Straight And Narrow plays on the edges of country and rock in a highly energetic and driven musical declaration that would play very well to country radio. There is a strong moral compass in the music presented here that's Judeo-Christian in nature. The music itself isn't religious per se, but there's a distinct philosophy or belief system that underlies the songwriting that's based in one. Made To Love You also reflects this distinct grounding in perhaps the most explicit terms on the album. Jeremy & Rebecca sing to each other from their hearts, and the sincerity is clear. This is major mix-tape material without the complicated blending of love and sexuality that pervades popular music.

Jeremy takes lead vocals on How I Love You in a tune that sounds like something Barry Manilow might have recorded in the 1970's. It's a sweet song and another mix-tape must. Miracle finds Jeremy & Rebecca bringing the funk on one of the best dance oriented songs on the disc. Tallest Tree is a sweet song written by Jeremy for his son; it's the earnest promise of a father to be the best he can for his son. The song is beautifully written pop that will touch both fathers and sons. Why Strive finds Rebecca hitting a 1970's vibe again in a song that, while not my favorite on the disc, is certainly sonically interesting. Rise And Shine is a theatrical pop tune with some serious guitar work dancing around the vocals. Rebecca provides a great deal of vocal color and sass on a song that moves from shadow to light and back several times. The album closes out with Have You Got The Time, a cabaret jazz style love song that is the perfect ending for a dynamic and changeable album.

What We Leave Behind is an unusual project, a melding on many varied and disparate pieces into a concept album unlike anything you're likely to hear these days. Jeremy & Rebecca seek to entertain with values-based music and themes; making music they would be perfectly comfortable with their children hearing. The goal is admirable, and I think it's safe to say it’s a smashing success. What We Leave Behind is bound to be a breakthrough album.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Jeremy & Rebecca at www.myspace.com/jeremyandrebecca or http://www.jeremyandrebecca.com/, where you can purchase a copy of What We Leave Behind using PayPal. The album can also be obtained at Amazon.com, or you can download the album through iTunes.