What I Deserve

Amazon.com
Kelly Willis's first full-length offering since 1993 is one of the better country records you will hear, alternative or otherwise. She covers tunes by the likes of Paul Westerberg, Nick Drake, and Paul Kelly, and cowrites with the Jayhawks' Gary Louris and John Leventhal. If none of the songs quite rises to the heights of the Steve Earle, Jim Lauderdale, and Joe Ely material on her 1991 masterpiece Bang Bang, it is still solid stuff nonetheless. Any new song by Dan Penn ("Got a Feelin' for Ya", cowritten with Chuck Prophet) is already worth the price of admission, but Willis herself penned what may be the best tune here, "Talk Like That," an ode to the comfort of a familiar accent far from home. What I Deserve was recorded on a tight budget without a record deal, which may be why the backing, though well played (especially by guitarist Prophet), verges on sounding unfinished--or, it may be the alternative-country sound she was intentionally seeking. Either way, Willis's sublime voice and delivery reside on a more sophisticated plane. If listening to her throaty warbling of Nick Drake's "Time Has Told Me" or her sultry rendering of the Penn tune doesn't give you "chicken skin," it is time to check your pulse. --Michael Ross

New York Times
She offers painful tales of lost love but then expresses the resolve to move on. Hovering between romantic fantasy and deflated realism, Ms. Willis taps a rare subtlety of feeling.

What I Deserve

Tracks:

Take Me Down
What I Deserve
Heaven Bound
Talk Like That
Not Forgotten You
Wrapped
Cradle Of Love
Got A Feelin' For Ya
Time Has Told Me
Fading Fast
Happy With That
They're Blind
Not Long For This World

Amazon.com

Kelly Willis's first full-length offering since 1993 is one of the better country records you will hear, alternative or otherwise. She covers tunes by the likes of Paul Westerberg, Nick Drake, and Paul Kelly, and cowrites with the Jayhawks' Gary Louris and John Leventhal. If none of the songs quite rises to the heights of the Steve Earle, Jim Lauderdale, and Joe Ely material on her 1991 masterpiece Bang Bang, it is still solid stuff nonetheless. Any new song by Dan Penn ("Got a Feelin' for Ya", cowritten with Chuck Prophet) is already worth the price of admission, but Willis herself penned what may be the best tune here, "Talk Like That," an ode to the comfort of a familiar accent far from home. What I Deserve was recorded on a tight budget without a record deal, which may be why the backing, though well played (especially by guitarist Prophet), verges on sounding unfinished--or, it may be the alternative-country sound she was intentionally seeking. Either way, Willis's sublime voice and delivery reside on a more sophisticated plane. If listening to her throaty warbling of Nick Drake's "Time Has Told Me" or her sultry rendering of the Penn tune doesn't give you "chicken skin," it is time to check your pulse. --Michael Ross

Customer Reviews:

What you deserve - this CD now!.......2005-11-19

I discovered Kelly Willis a few years back while stumbling across her performance on PBS's Austin City Limits. Her beautiful and soft voice immediately captured my attention. I can honestly say that up to this point I've never had been a fan of country music. My impression of country was of dressed up "country-fied" pop stars retro-fitted with cowboy hats and shiny boots (i.e.: Shania Twain and Faith Hill). Kelly's performance on Austin City Limits and this CD changed that stereotype for me.

The music on this album is wonderful, down to earth, and pure. Many of the songs, such as "Talk Like That" are from the heart and autobiographical. Highlights of the album also include: "Not Forgotten You", nicely accentuated by a Hammond organ; "Fading Fast" which she had previously recorded with Jay Farrar of Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt; the cover of Nick Drake's "Time Has Told Me" with it's haunting fiddle is fantastic, albeit a little sad and somber; and "Wrapped" which was written by her husband, Bruce Robison. Alt-country guitarist Chuck Prophet also lends his support on the album. In fact, I don't think there is a bad song on the entire album, with the possible exception of her cover of The Replacements "They're Blind".

This is a fantastic CD that I continuously play in my rotation. In fact, my accidental discovery of Kelly has expanded my foray in "alternative country" and has lead me to "discover" and appreciate her husband's work, her brother-in-law Charlie Robison, her sister-in-law's band the Dixie Chicks, Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt/Jay Farrar, Chuck Prophet, Alison Kruass & Union Station, Nickel Creek, Slobberbone, and Drive-by-Truckers, to name a few.

Lastly, I have had the wonderful experience to see Kelly live at the Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis, MD. Kelly is one of those rare singers that sounds as beautiful live in person as she does on this CD, if not better. When she performs, the sound of her voice flows so freely that it is as if she barely has to try. Don't miss out on this CD or seeing her live! I highly recommend.

Fair, but not good.......2005-09-10

Released in the late '90's, this album is the beginning of Kelly's mediocrity. In all honesty, I was a big Kelly Willis fan when she first hit the scene. She didn't seem to have her personal life together, she seemed to be coming apart at the seams, and she was rough around the edges; in other words, she was the perfect singer. Add a little wild and rowdy guitar (as in her 3d album), and Kelly was approaching perfection. Then, along comes "What I Deserve". This is a poor country album, and barely more than a good "Adult Contemporary/Easy Listening" album! However, there are a few bright spots here, and shades of "what was" Kelly Willis. "Wrapped" is an outstanding piece and should've been pushed to the Radio Stations as a Single (maybe the only single on the album?)....it is that good. "Talk Like That", while not very strong lyrically, is sung with wide-open sincerity. But, the rest of the album is either white bread bland, or just plain stinks (I've yet to hear a good word aout "They're Blind"). If you're a diehard Kelly Willis fan, this album is worth a listen; but it will quickly fall out of your rotation. Do yourself a favor, and buy "One More Time" instead.....or better yet, her self-titled Third Album.

Quality country by a class act.......2005-05-25

Kelly Willis is sometimes classified as alt-country but that may simply be because she does her own thing. This album doesn't quite fit Nashville's idea of contemporary country, nor can it be described as traditional country, but it is certainly country music (albeit with other influences) of the highest quality. Kelly has a wonderful voice that she puts to superb use on a well-chosen set of songs, most of which she wrote or co-wrote.

The tempo of the album is varies between slow and mid-tempo - if you're looking for up-tempo, rocking songs, you won't find them here - but this album has plenty of variety in other ways. The regular instruments are acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass and drums but there are additional instruments on some tracks. Some tracks feature a Hammond B-3, electric lap steel guitar or percussion. Talk like that features a fiddle. Not forgotten you features a mandolin. Gotta feeling for you features a farfisa and bells a-ringing. Time has told me features a pedal steel guitar, fiddle and piano. So each track is played a little differently from the others.

Many of the songs are melancholy, showing that Kelly has plenty of experience of life's problems - however, listening to this album, one is left with the feeling that if anybody can overcome the problems, Kelly can - it's not all doom and gloom. After all, Kelly recorded this album without a recording contract, then looked for a record label willing to release it. That takes courage and a certain amount of self-confidence.

What Kelly deserves, on the evidence of this and other albums, is to be a major star. For whatever reason, that has not happened, but this album will provide plenty of pleasure for fans who are more interested in quality music than what's fashionable.

This is a great album.......2005-05-04

First of all, for a "country" artist to cover both Nick Drake and The Replacements deserves kudos alone. What I Deserve is one of my all time favorite albums, one I would be happy to be stranded with on a desert island. Standouts include "Talk Like That", "They're Blind", "Not Forgotten You" & "Time Has Told Me".

Buy this album, artists like Kelly Willis, unpretentious and not bound commercially, deserve our support.

One of the greatest female voice ever!.......2004-01-03

Like everyone else, I don't understand why Kelly doesn't get more radio play. She has such a great voice! In my opinion, this CD does not have a bad song. They're all terrific. Keep writing and singing, Kelly! I'll keep buying!

Average customer rating:

Almodóvar Early Films

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000B6TR8O
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown: Mujeres Al Borde De Un Ataque De Nervios
Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown: La Mirada Indescreta
Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown: Taxi Triste
Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown: El Telefono No Suena
Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown: Hacia El Aeropuerto
Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown: Los Tacones De Pepa
Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown: Taxi Mambo
Matador: Composicion En Rojo
Matador: Persecucion Telepatica
Matador: Composicion En Ocre
Matador: Composicion En Negro
Matador: Matador
What Have I Done To Deserve This?: El Lagarto
What Have I Done To Deserve This?: La Familia De Gloria
What Have I Done To Deserve This?: Madrid-Berlin
What Have I Done To Deserve This?: La Soledad De Gloria
What Have I Done To Deserve This?: Que He Hecho Yo Para Merecer Esto!
Labyrinth Of Passions: Gran Ganga
Labyrinth Of Passions: Suck It To Me

Music Album:

Music Album