While You Weren't Looking

Amazon.com
Though Ryan Adams commanded the spotlight in the acclaimed late-'90s alt-country group Whiskeytown, fiddler and harmony singer Caitlin Cary played a prominent role in shaping the band's sound and soul. Even so, it's a stunning surprise that her full-length solo debut (following a five-song EP in 2000) stands head and shoulders above Adams's two highly touted post-Whiskeytown efforts. Working with several fellow Whiskeytown alums plus a stable of ace players from her North Carolina home, Cary leans a little less toward her old band's country-rock and a little more toward the tasteful folk-pop of Linda Thompson (whose rich voice Cary clearly echoes). Renowned producer Chris Stamey turns in the finest work of his career, crafting upbeat tunes such as "Shallow Heart, Shallow Water," "Thick Walls Down," and "Pony" into unforgettable gems, while fashioning an exquisitely understated backdrop for quieter songs such as "Fireworks" and "Sorry." --Peter Blackstock

Tracks:

Shallow Heart, Shallow Water
Please Don't Hurry Your Heart
Fireworks
What Will You Do?
Thick Walls Down
Sorry
Pony
The Fair
Too Many Keys
Hold On To Me
I Ain't Found Nobody Yet

Amazon.com

Though Ryan Adams commanded the spotlight in the acclaimed late-'90s alt-country group Whiskeytown, fiddler and harmony singer Caitlin Cary played a prominent role in shaping the band's sound and soul. Even so, it's a stunning surprise that her full-length solo debut (following a five-song EP in 2000) stands head and shoulders above Adams's two highly touted post-Whiskeytown efforts. Working with several fellow Whiskeytown alums plus a stable of ace players from her North Carolina home, Cary leans a little less toward her old band's country-rock and a little more toward the tasteful folk-pop of Linda Thompson (whose rich voice Cary clearly echoes). Renowned producer Chris Stamey turns in the finest work of his career, crafting upbeat tunes such as "Shallow Heart, Shallow Water," "Thick Walls Down," and "Pony" into unforgettable gems, while fashioning an exquisitely understated backdrop for quieter songs such as "Fireworks" and "Sorry." --Peter Blackstock

Customer Reviews:

Best album of 2002.......2003-08-05

Caitlin is the most underrated female singer today. Her name should always be included in the company of Lucinda, Emmylou or Rosanne.

What else ya got?.......2003-05-04

Better than the efforts of Ryan Adams/Whiskeytown? What was this professional reviewer on? This CD isn't quite a dud, but definitely close. Try to find it in the "used CD" bins. That's probably where mine will end up.

Solid Solo Debut.......2003-03-03

After the demise of alt-country wunderkinds Whiskeytown, all of the attention went to uberbrat frontman Ryan Adams. Overlooked was the fact that the band contained another fine youn gtalent who had been hidden by Adams's very considerablt shadow. Now violinist Caitlin Cary has fully stepped out on her own (albiet with an assist from Adams, who appears on several tracks). The first surprise, given that Cary was always relegated to a backup vocal role in the band, is that she is a very good singer. The second is that as a songwriter she's nearly on par with Adams in terms of quality if not in terms of incredibly prolific output.

Cary's sound is much closer to the country rock of Whiskeytown than Adams's solo material. She even takes a passable stab at bluegrass on "Hold On to Me." She's at her best, however, when she infuses a bit of rock energy into the mix, as on "Shallow Heart, Shallow Water," "Please Don't Hurry Your Heart," "What Will You Do?" and "Too Many Keys." On the downside, some of the ballads tend to be a bit bland and one experimental track, "The Fair," doesn't work at all. There's a bonus mini-CD in the package containing four extra songs, including a duet with Adams and the CD booklet contains a full lyrics sheet.

Overall, a decent solo debut from an artist just learning to perform on her own.

Just terrific!.......2003-01-07

I like it more every time I listen. I actually had lower expectations than some other folks I know, as I always thought of Whiskeytown as a one man band...

She and the rest of the band have crafted a marvelous album. Not a cut is wasted, and the highlight is "Thick Walls Down," with excellent harmony vocals and blazing guitars.

Buy it and enjoy!

Lame songs.......2002-12-14

One word sums this CD up: BORING. Cary sounds as if she is ready to pack it up and move into a nursing home for old singers and songwriters. I can't see many people liking this CD, the lyrics are drole and the music is very repetitive and monotonous. Collectively, all of these songs begins to run together, and it is rather tedious to try and listen to this album from start to finish in one sitting.

In this CD, Cary takes herself way too seriously. She needs to lighten up a bit. There is a curious kind of emotional detachment at work here in her songs. Her songs reflects her self-importance view - there is an air of pretense in her lyrics. The songs are unoriginal and uninspiring. It seems that Cary's ego was too big for this depressing CD and her talent can't cut it. Her unintelligible, melodramatic, twangy, whiny voice fails to gather much appeal from a listener.

While You Weren't Looking
Average customer rating:
While You Weren't Looking

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000919VE
Release Date: 2004-07-20

Music Album:

Music Album