Maria McKee

1. I've Forgotten What It Was in You (That Put the Need in Me)

2. To Miss Someone

3. Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way?)

4. Nobody's Child

5. Panic Beach

6. Can't Pull the Wool Down (Over the Little Lamb's Eyes)

7. More Than a Heart Can Hold

8. This Property Is Condemned

9. Breathe

10. Has He Got a Friend for Me?

11. Drinkin' in My Sunday Dress

Maria McKee,Maria McKee,Geffen Records,Alternative Pop/Rock,College Rock,Country-Rock,Pop,Rock

Average customer rating: Songcatcher Disappointed Not very authentic, but a couple of good songs Songcatcher - The real soundtrack Bad

Songcatcher: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture Roseanne Cash , Dolly Parton , Emmylou Harris , Maria McKee , David Mansfield , Patty Loveless , Allison Moorer , Emmy Rossum , David Patrick Kelly & Bobby McMillen Hazel Dickens , and Pat Carrolls Manufacturer: Vanguard Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Songcatcher II: The Tradition That Inspired the Movie Songcatcher Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian Folkways Songs From the Mountain O Sister! The Women's Bluegrass Collection ASIN: B00005B50H Release Date: 2001-05-08

Tracks:

1. Fair And Tender Ladies - Roseanne Cash
2. Pretty Saro - Iri DeMent
3. When Love Is New - Dolly Parton & Emmy Rossum
4. Barbara Allen - Emmy Rossum
5. Barbara Allen - Emmylou Harris
6. Moonshiner - Allison Moorer
7. Sounds Of Loneliness - Patty Loveless
8. All My Tears - Julie Miller
9. Wayfarin' Stranger - Maria McKee
10. Mary Of The Wild Moor - Sara Evans
11. Wind And Rain - Gillian Welch, David Rawlings & David Steele
12. The Cuckoo Bird - Deana Carter
13. Score Suite #1 - David Mansfield
14. Conversations With Death - Hazel Dickens, David Patrick Kelly & Bobby McMillen
15. Score Suite #2 - David Mansfield
16. Single Girl - Pat Carrolls

Amazon.com

Maybe they should have subtitled this album O Sister, Where Art Thou? Like the music from the Coen brothers' O Brother... movie, Songcatcher celebrates the emotional purity of mountain music, the acoustic balladry of the Appalachians--only this soundtrack features an all-female assemblage. Among the luminaries who shine the brightest: Rosanne Cash, who sets the tone with the album-opening "Fair and Tender Ladies"; Julie Miller, whose original "All My Tears" could pass as an old spiritual; Patty Loveless, who returns to her Kentucky roots with "Sounds of Loneliness"; and Gillian Welch, who leads an a cappella rendition of "Wind and Rain." Of the more familiar material, Emmylou Harris seems like she's coasting through the oft-revived "Barbara Allen" while Maria McKee sounds like she's singing for her life on "Wayfarin' Stranger." Yet the emphasis throughout is less on vocal virtuosity than on the stark simplicity of the songs, the album more impressive as an ensemble piece than a showcase for individual singers. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

Songcatcher.......2007-05-30

This CD is absolutely fantastic. If anyone that enjoys mountain music will
certainly be crazy about it. And if you enjoy the CD, you will diffiently enjoy the DVD of the Songcatcher.

Disappointed.......2007-05-25

I should have paid more attention to the fine print. Mostly, this is not a soundtrack album. If I want to listen to all the songs as they are performed in the film, it seems I will have to get the DVD.

If you want to listen to the soundtrack performances of all the songs, then do not get this CD.

Not very authentic, but a couple of good songs.......2007-01-17

This is an okay album if you are just looking for some listenable music, but in general the songs are overdone and not authentic-sounding (as in, they don't sound like mountain music but like something produced in some fancy studio). The exception is Iris DeMent's "Pretty Saro," which is an absolute gem and perhaps makes the album worth buying for just this one song!!! There are some good songs on here, but if you are looking for real Appalachian tunes, you'll not find much of that. Of course, many of the singers have fantastic voices, so that's one plus. There are a lot of really good authentic albums out there, but this isn't one of them.

Songcatcher - The real soundtrack.......2007-01-16

My mother loves this CD so much I had to buy her another, one for her home & one in the car. My grandmother and aunt loved the music & movie too, and now my 9 year old is singing some of the quirky songs too. They highly recommend it for people that like the movie or this type of music.

Bad.......2007-01-02

Nothing good to say about this... overproduced and does not capture spirit of the movie. Get "Songcatcher II" instead.

Average customer rating: It's all led up to this Too Good For Corporate American Radio Holy Glam Rock! Maria McKee Saves Rock N Roll Maria does it again...and again...and again...and again A Sheer Sonic Delight

Late December Maria McKee Manufacturer: Cooking Vinyl ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Live Acoustic Tour 2006 Scarred Palms & Runes, Tarot & Tea: A Michael Penn Collection Peddlin' Dreams Breakfast in Bed ASIN: B000MRA88A Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

1. Late December
2. No Other Way To Love You
3. A Good Heart
4. Power On, Little Star
5. Too Many Heroes
6. Destine
7. My First Night Without You
8. Scene Of The Affair
9. Cat In The Wall
10. One Eye On The Sky (One ON The Grave)
11. Bannow
12. Straving Pretty

Amazon.com

Even in the early days of her solo career, Maria McKee had a penchant for penning dramatic melodies that seemed more conducive to Broadway than to contemporary radio. In fact, the former Lone Justice frontwoman makes reference to criticisms of that theatrical style in between songs on her "Live Acoustic Tour" CD. Pandering to no one, McKee continues to distance herself from her country roots on her sixth studio release, Late December, writing what might be best described as 'pop-ras,' miniature contemporary pseudo-operas sung in open-throated vibrato. "Destine" is a prime example, echoing Queen's "A Night at the Opera" with it's dramatic vocals and grandiose guitar solo. "Scene of the Affair" evokes a similar sensibility, as McKee mournfully sings "Four walls and a bed/best to let the dead rest with the dead." Those who prefer the old Maria will find a handful of songs to satiate their thirsty musical pallet. "My First Night Without You" has a soul/country cross that allows McKee to vocally shine; other notable moments include the gospel-infused ending to the title track and the infectious '60s Motown styling of "No Other Way to Love You." The one song that will likely please fans of both musical camps is McKee's inclusion of "A Good Heart," a track that she wrote at 18 years of age which became a worldwide hit for an Irish artist named Feargal Sharkey. --Denise Sheppard

Customer Reviews:

It's all led up to this.......2007-07-13

If you saw Lone Justice back in the day, you're a Maria Mckee fan. But thought she was always one of the great live performers, and an enormously talented songwriter, the recordings (both LJ and her own) were, by almost all accounts, an eclectic and mixed bag.

But here she is, part Edith Piaf, part Freddie Mercury, blasting through an outrageous set of operatic pop-rock that is about the most startlingly bold CD in recently memory. Hearing it is like when you first heard Jeff Buckley's "Grace": ohmygodohmygod, this person is out of his/her mind, shooting for the stars, and talented enough to pull it off. Wow.

This is the one we've been waiting for. And it's thrilling that in her forties, she is doing, without a doubt, absolutely her barking best work.

The gorgeous space of the opener, "Late December," sets you up. Then she rollicks along with the almost Motownish "No Other Way to Love You" (though the Rob Halford screeches mark it as a song only Mckee could sing). We're all glad to finally have her own studio recording of the classic "A Good Heart." And the next three only get better, with McKee out-Queening Queen on "Destine."

I could go on... every song is excellent, and the flow is dramatic and compelling.

If you're looking for a safe listen in a particular style you like to be able to ignore while you do something else, take a pass. But if you appreciate what can happen when a great songwriter, performer, and student of pop goes completely for broke, check it out.

Too Good For Corporate American Radio.......2007-06-17

Continuing her penchant of putting out great albums (this being her third studio album since returning in 2003 after a seven-year studio hiatus) that are too good for corporate radio, Maria McKee's LATE DECEMBER is another stunning work from one of the finest and most painfully underappreciated (at least by the public) vocalists of the last thirty-plus years.

In contrast with 2005's PEDDLIN' DREAMS (a rustic acoustic folk/country/rock affair that sort of harkened back to her Lone Justice days), LATE DECEMBER harkens back to the power-pop/rock eclecticism of her 2003 comeback HIGH DIVE. Her voice soars on all twelve tracks, written either by her alone or in collaboration with her producer husband Jim Akin, in such a way as to make her perfect for Broadway. But there's the R&B influences as well, on the title track and "No Other Way To Love You." And there is also the kind of cautionary note on "One Eye On The Sky (One On The Grave)", which is faintly reminiscent of HIGH DIVE's "From Our TV Teens To The Tomb."

What this album, and all of those in Maria's canon, dating all the way back to Lone Justice, shows is that she has always had the goods in every facet and has always had a hugely eclectic musical pallet--and, unfortunately, has also been far too good to be accepted on corporate radio in America. This is why it is best to pick up this CD and experience this tremendously gifted and youthful lady who still packs a vocal punch in her early 40s.

Holy Glam Rock! Maria McKee Saves Rock N Roll.......2007-05-09

Holy Glam Rock! Maria McKee saves Rock N Roll single handedly with this glam rock explosion! What an amazing power-pop record. The second song, No Other Way To Love You sums up what Rock has been missing. Life is sweet, indeeed! This album has restored my faith in Rock!

Maria does it again...and again...and again...and again.......2007-04-28

Ahhhhh Maria. Still not doing what everyone expects of you. Why doesn't she play this? Why doesn't she record that? Why doesn't each new record sound like the last one? How do we solve a problem like Maria?

You little diva indeed.

In my opinion, the new album is flippin' brilliant. My favourite so far, I think. Truly. Amazing. No Other Way to Love You may be the most gorgeously perfect pop song she's ever recorded. I am 3 months sober and Power On, Little Star leaves me shaking and in tears. I LOVE Destine - killer hook in it. Would love to see her play it live. And Starving Pretty is rich and full and melodic and...again...Maria breaks my heart. Did I mention Late December? Uhhh, goosebumps. The end of a relationship? The end of a career? The end of a life? But still, the hope of starting over. Maria sees the bleakness but holds onto hope.

This woman is a genius. I cannot believe we have been blessed with five (count 'em, five) Maria albums since 2003. Around year 2000, I seriously wondered if we would ever hear from her again. I believe that LD is a more accomplished, cohesive album than High Dive. The production is stellar and exciting and Maria seems to understand now that, no matter what, her voice needs to stay front and center in the mix. She and Jim have done a remarkable job with this one.

Thank you, Maria, for a lifetime of music and passion and hope.

Life is sweet.

Caution: Rant ahead:
Why? Why? Why does every song/album that Maria records HAVE to be compared to some other sound/singer/genre, blah, blah, blah? Has the world not figured out yet that she is her very own universe, guided by her own insane muse? It's obvious. It's been obvious for a long time. She's not interested in doing the same thing twice. Ever. Let's all get over it. She's never doing an album of Bob Dylan covers. Ain't gonna happen! Record critics are truly out-to-lunch. Thank God for Thom Jurek!

A Sheer Sonic Delight.......2007-04-27

As my wife can attest, I am a mark for all things Maria - and have been since buying that first Lone Justice album back in 1985. Yes, of course, through the years she's evolved, exploring different musical terrains and challenging us fans - as all artists should. As far as this album: it's a sheer sonic delight that echoes the likes of David Bowie, the Drifters, Laura Nyro, Queen, Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen and many others. Yet, as with all of her albums, the end result is 100-percent Maria: eccentric, heartfelt, theatrical and ... just plain addictive.

The finger-snapping title cut, about love on its last legs - or maybe just the fear of such ("baby, when can we start over?") - conjures NYC in winter with its bed of Nyro-like vocal flourishes and "Walk on the Wild Side"-esque spoken-word interludes. Another favorite: "No Other Way to Love You," which builds from its "On Broadway"-like intro to become ... well, I already used the word "addictive," but I'll use it again. It's a sweeping, hypnotic song about giving one's self over to love in total: "Want to talk about your wild horses/and the strength of 100 men/Attila and all his forces/couldn't keep me away from him ...." You'll feel Maria's sweat flying from the speakers, guaranteed. (Check out the guitar work on it, too.)

Other highlights: her cover of her own "A Good Heart," originally a hit for Feargal Sharkey way back when; the aching "My First Night without You"; the utterly poetic, operatic rocker "One Eye on the Sky (One Eye on the Grave)," in which she demonstrates why she's sometimes called "a punk Edith Piaf"; and the closing "Starving Pretty," in which she sings a song for starving artists everywhere: "lean on me, baby/we're going to make it/we're paperthin/we're gonna win...." The most challenging song, I suppose, is the oddball "Cat in the Wall" - but (as often is the case with Maria) there's a metaphor at play there. In a way, it's a bit like having a cat knead you - it's wonderful even though the tips of its claws dig a bit into the skin.

Of course, having singled out those seven songs, I feel compelled to single out the other five. I won't but, suffice it to say, "Late December" is an album that demands repeated plays; and, as all great albums, gets better with each listen.

Average customer rating: To beat those pesky bootlegers! Nice selection of Lone Justice/Maria Mckee songs Belongs in the Spoken Word section Mesmerizing

Live Acoustic Tour 2006 Maria McKee Manufacturer: Cooking Vinyl ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Late December West Peddlin' Dreams This Hungry Life Long Journey Home ASIN: B000HDZALE Release Date: 2006-10-17

Tracks:

1. This World Is Not My Home
2. Peddlin' Dreams
3. Shelter
4. High Dive
5. Orange Skies
6. Breathe
7. In The Long Run
8. Don't Toss Us Away
9. Belfry
10. A Good Heart
11. Sullen Soul
12. Blessed Salvation
13. Has He Got A Friend For Me
14. Backstreets

Customer Reviews:

To beat those pesky bootlegers!.......2007-06-05

I was very glad when I heard this album was out, and even gladder when I heard this album. Probably recorded in or near L.A. with her family and friends there, and now you can be there too. So what if there is talking between the songs, it is a Maria McKee concert, and it is her show, not a juke box,(many facets to the artist). Her voice makes me melt, she could sing the phonebook even, but like all songs there are meanings behind the lyrics. So, if you want to have an intimate experience with a truely gifted artist, get this album. I just found out about her latest effort called "Late December", now I`ll have to get that one too. Sooo prolific as of late!

Nice selection of Lone Justice/Maria Mckee songs.......2006-11-12

This was a much better live album than Maria's last one (Live from Hamburg). She included many classic LJ and MM hits. While she does do a little spoken intro for many of the songs it is no way excessive. If you are a fan of her old stuff you will want this CD. I saw her on the acoustic tour and I get to relive the experience every time I listen. Enjoy!

Belongs in the Spoken Word section.......2006-10-26

If you like lots of inane chatter [about 1/3 of the total running time?] interspersed among good [but not great] and too-short renditions of some good [but not the best] choices from Maria's catalog, this is the disc for you. Otherwise stick with You Gotta Sin to Get Saved and the Lone Justice discs.

Mesmerizing.......2006-10-18

A true, five-star stunner. Essentially just Maria on guitar and piano, with her friend Susan helping out on backing vocals, from her spring '06 tour. I saw them when they played Philly - this CD, like that show, is wondrous, mesmerizing and a delight. If you close your eyes, you'll swear you're at the foot of the stage. Highlights include the old dependables of "Shelter" and "Breathe" (I'll never tire of hearing either), plus Richard Thompson's "Has He Got a Friend for Me," the three songs written by her late brother Bryan (Love's "Orange Skies," Lone Justice's "Don't Toss Us Away" and the gospel "Blessed Salvation") and her hypnotic rendition of Bruce Springsteen's "Backstreets." Other highlights worth mentioning: the three tracks from her sublime 2005 Peddlin' Dreams album (the title track, "Sullen Soul" and Neil Young's "Barstool Blues," presented here as a "hidden" track).

Average customer rating: 10 of the best And May the sweet.. A VOICE OF PURE ETHEREAL BEAUTY Maria McKee : She'll Grab Your Ears and Won't Let Go ! Still splendid singing songs solo!

Maria McKee Maria McKee Manufacturer: Geffen Gold Line Sp. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Rock General | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Rock General | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: You Gotta Sin to Get Saved Shelter Lone Justice High Dive Peddlin' Dreams ASIN: B000000OZ3 Release Date: 1996-03-19

Tracks:

1. I've Forgotten What It Was In You (That Put The Need In Me)
2. To Miss Someone
3. Am I The Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way?)
4. Nobody's Child
5. Panic Beach
6. Can't Pull The Wool Down (Over The Little Lamb's Eyes)
7. More Than A Heart Can Hold
8. This Property Is Condemned
9. Breathe
10. Has He Got A Friend For Me?
11. Drinkin' In My Sunday Dress

Customer Reviews:

10 of the best.......2007-06-27

I'm not sure if I would have made it through the 80's if it wasn't for Maria McKee. Rolling Stone named Lone Justice the best new band, and although not a commercial giant in the US, McKee delivered. My vinyl copy of this album was worn to a nub long ago. Maria has it all, and on this album she shows us so.
Her lyrics full of drama, heartbreak, passion and anger, her voice full of joy, ferver, fear, and love. Her vocal range astounding, her pen astonishing - and although she continues to deliver (2007's Late December for instance) this is still her best.
"Panic Beach" is story of a vaudville hopefull that is sung with such optimistic anguish "I may be hungry, but my rent is free" that you want to pity her, help her, watch her, and be her all at the same time. "To Miss Someone" and "Breathe", the singles from the album are incredible. "More Than A Heart Can Hold" is a bluesy/gospel masterpiece.
McKee's voice continues to be one of the finest in music - proof that power and control does not have to mean vocal gymnastics. Her solo debut continues to hold strongly at the top of my favorite albums of all time.
Thank you, Little Diva, thank you.

And May the sweet.........2007-02-19

Georgia rain bring me a sound that's as sweet and as fresh as this Gem by a woman who's both "clumsy and Shy" according to her own longings, and I don't know if I know of another more passionate vocalist ma'am. May I escort her to the property that's condemned so I can share a brandy with a woman who does this classic "Property's condemned" a wall or a Lone Justice if you will. Ahh the satisfying warmth of inspiration.

A VOICE OF PURE ETHEREAL BEAUTY.......2007-01-14

Maria McKee is easily the most overlooked female singer in music history. Quite a claim! I know, but I challenge you to find a stronger voice after, say, Aretha Franklin. There is simply no better country singer on the planet - not Loretta Lynn, not Tammy Wynette, none of the moderns - forget the Dixie Chicks, and Neko Case, as glorious as she can be, cannot begin to approach the tortured angelic ecstasy that pours out from Maria's voice. She leaves everyone else in the dust. Listen to Panic Beach off this record and experience four minutes of rapture. If you're still in one piece, try More than a Heart Can Hold for the best country gospel you're ever likely to hear! So uplifting, it's a religious experience... every time I listen I want to dissolve myself in her breath and spirit.

Maria McKee : She'll Grab Your Ears and Won't Let Go !.......2005-02-16

Born in LA in 1964, and having released two albums with Lone Justice, this is Maria McKee's first solo album. Released in 1989, and recorded in Hollywood, Dublin and London, nine of the eleven tracks were written solely by Maria. A tenth ("More Than a Heart Can Hold") was co-written with Robbie Robertson. Featuring, among other things, a Hammond organ and strings, the best description is country-rock with a slight bluesy twinge.

The album gets off to a great start with "I've Forgotten What It Was In You (That Put The Need In Me)". Despite the title, it's quite an up-tempo number that sees Maria fairly belting out the vocals. She puts in a similar performance on "This Property is Condemned", which also features a moody bassline and rock-n-roll-esque guitars. However, it's "Panic Beach" - another of the album's livelier songs - that I'd pick as the best track. It has a great tune, great lyrics and could easily have been subtitled "When Showbiz Goes Wrong". Sometimes, it does you good to hear a song like this !

There are a couple of more gentle songs on the album - "Has He Got a Friend For Me ?", the only song that doesn't see Maria with a writing credit, is a very good example. She also gives her backing band its only break for this track, and accompanies herself on the piano. Two of the songs that were released as singles also stand out : "To Miss Someone" shows just what a nice voice Maria has, while "Breathe" is one of the few songs where things actually seem to be working out !

There simply isn't a bad song on this album, and I can't understand why Maria McKee didn't become a huge success. She has a voice that can convey the mood of a song perfectly - hurt, need, calm or just generally fed up ! Highly recommended !

Still splendid singing songs solo!.......2004-01-29

As a huge Lone Justice fan, particularly of Maria McKee's amazing live performances with them, I was extremely disappointed when the band broke up so quickly after gaining national recognition in the mid-80's. Their first recording was absolutely perfect, and the second was inconsistent but contained a few of the great songs that were highlights of their concerts, and served as a reminder all these years of what they could do in person. When I read, years later, that Maria McKee had gone softer, solo, and born-again Christian, I (wrongly) concluded that was that and put her out of my mind. When a long-distance friend told me how great her early solo recordings were, I was a bit skeptical, and decided to err on the side of caution, never buying or hearing them.

Recently I decided that 15 years was caution enough, and picked up this CD. I'm so glad I did! It is extremely enjoyable, and, to my surprise, a huge improvement over "Shelter" (sorry, I can't make comparisons to her later CD's I haven't heard yet). Maria McKee's strength, in my opinion, lies more in the passion of that amazing soprono, that seems to just burst miraculously from that tiny ball of energy, than in her songwriting - some of the best Lone Justice songs were written by other band members. But the writing here, almost all her own, is actually fairly good, and the production by Mitchell Froom is restrained and perfect. It remains tasteful and timely 15 years later. The vocal performances are absolutely stunning. On the eponymous first Lone Justice recording, McKee was uniformly brilliant, but her restraint on most of the numbers on "Shelter" didn't suit her any more than the overproduction did. She varies the tempo and volume here, but cuts loose at some point on most of the songs, to very good effect. The style varies, and she never really rocks the way she did with her old band (though "Drinking in My Sunday Dress" sounds remarkably like "Soap, Soup, and Salvation"). But the passion and energy I remember from her Lone Justice days is present throughout, along with the strength of that amazing voice. While there isn't anything that hits quite as hard as "East of Eden" or "I Found Love", there is a consistently high level of energy and competence, and this recording has been in my CD player for days.

I wish I'd picked this up 15 years ago, but it's not too late - highly recommended for Lone Justice fans - I can't speak to her later work, but this CD is not a drastic departure from her earlier work, and it's uniformly excellent!

Average customer rating: Buy Me, Please! Ragtag collection An Underappreciated Goddess of Rock unlikely to win converts with this one Stunning

Ultimate Collection Maria McKee Manufacturer: Hip-O Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: You Gotta Sin to Get Saved Peddlin' Dreams 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Maria McKee Lone Justice Maria McKee ASIN: B00004WJG4 Release Date: 2000-08-22

Tracks:

1. Ways to Be Wicked - Lone Justice
2. Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling) - Lone Justice
3. Don't Toss Us Away - Lone Justice
4. Shelter - Lone Justice
5. Wheels - Lone Justice
6. Panic Beach - Maria McKee
7. Only Once
8. Absolutely Barking Stars
9. I'm Awake
10. Scarlover
11. If Love Is a Red Dress (Hang Me in Rags)
12. Show Me Heaven [acoustic demo version]
13. Sweetest Child [single mix]
14. Sweet Jane [live] - Lone Justice
15. Dixie Storms - Lone Justice
16. Breathe
17. Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way)

Customer Reviews:

Buy Me, Please!.......2005-02-06

Maria McKee, velvet voiced diva. A collection that touches mainly upon her later work with Lone Justice as well as solo. Taken in context with the Lone Justice compilation, this is must have.

As for the Lone Justice stuff, it's all superb; from the zenlike "Ways to Be Wicked" to the get up and go from "Sweet, Sweet Baby" to the silky "Shelter" and "Don't Toss Us Away".

Her solo stuff is great. I can't think of a more perfect 2+ minutes of sound that is "Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt this Way)?". A song that sounds infinitely better than the Dixie Chicks cover version. Wonderful too are the bluesy "Only Once", "Absolutely Barking Stars" and "If Love is a Red Dress".

A gorgeous collection from a talented woman.

Ragtag collection.......2003-11-28

I admit to being primarily a fan of the Lone Justice phase of Maria McKee's career, and the tracks from that band are poorly chosen here. Great songs like "East of Eden" and "I Found Love" aren't present, and songs that were uninteresting ("Sweet Sweet Baby") or boring curiosities ("Sweet Jane") are included. Songs not found on her solo albums like "Red Dress" are must-haves for a serious fan, but with so much focus on Lone Justice, I think it would be better to have the "This World Is Not My Home" Lone Justice compilation. And to either wait for a compilation containing more of her solo material or to buy the CD's themselves...

An Underappreciated Goddess of Rock.......2002-03-17

I think it's safe to say that Maria McKee has to rank as one of the most underappreciated (or least appreciated) female singers of the last three decades. Whether it has been as the lead singer of the 1980s alternative country-rock outfit Lone Justice or on her own, Maria has had one of the most flexible voices this side of Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. And yet despite her immense talents, radio and the music-buying public have ignored her. This compilation CD of Maria's best performances will leave you shaking your head as to why this is.

Maria shines really well while out front of Lone Justice on songs like Tom Petty's "Ways To Be Wicked" (with the notorious "stick it in" line), the country weeper "Don't Toss Us Away" (which Patty Loveless would later abscond with), and "Dixie Storms." On her own, the best tracks include "Only Once", a country tune that sounds like she's channeling early Linda Ronstadt and Patsy Cline, "If Love Is A Red Dress" (which would find its way into the soundtrack for PULP FICTION), and the up-tempo country-rocker "Am I The Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way)" (which the Dixie Chicks would cover on their 1998 breakthrough album WIDE OPEN SPACES).

Some of the blame for Maria's lack of success may have had to do with some of her own personal eccentricities. Beyond that, however, vocally she is certainly very close to the equal of Linda and Emmylou, and as such would blow many a female pop or country singer off the map. This CD comes strongly recommended.

unlikely to win converts with this one.......2001-10-24

Robert Christgau once wrote that Steve Winwood is what happens when one has more talent than brains. Listening to this CD evokes a similar response.

Maria McKee possesses undeniable talent and beauty. If she had been born 50 years earlier, some studio or Svengali producer would have surely harnessed that talent and beauty and made her a star. However, it appears that her career has been left to her own devices yielding this highly uneven collection and less than household name recognition.

The amber warning light goes off when one realizes that some of the strongest material a) was written by others, and b) is off the first Lone Justice album, before that band first splintered then collapsed. Although McKee has put out some good solo material, it is much more hit and miss. The collection reaches its nadir with a pointless live cover of "Sweet Jane."

Stunning.......2000-09-07

A superb collection. I agree with an earlier review that the cd "You Gotta Sin to Get Saved" should have been better represented. My copy of the cd differs on one of the tracks - the song "Only Once" replaced by "Grateful". I would have preferred the former song - oh well.

Average customer rating: Soothes the Soul The Female Version Of Tom Petty Queen among the outlaws. Maria's hidden gem A CD worth saving

You Gotta Sin to Get Saved Maria McKee Manufacturer: Geffen Gold Line Sp. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Rock General | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Rock General | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Maria McKee Lone Justice Shelter Life Is Sweet Peddlin' Dreams ASIN: B000000P0N Release Date: 1997-10-07

Tracks:

1. I'm Gonna Soothe You
2. My Lonely Sad Eyes
3. My Girlhood Among The Outlaws
4. Only Once
5. I Forgive You
6. I Can't Make It Alone
7. Precious Time
8. The Way Young Lovers Do
9. Why Wasn't I More Grateful (When Life Was Sweet)
10. You Gotta Sin To Get Saved

Amazon.com

Maria McKee's voice--equal parts Dolly and Aretha--had frequently been great, one song at a time, but it wasn't until You Gotta Sin that this former Lone Justice singer was perfect start to finish. McKee's best batch of songs ever are complimented here by the twisted guitar of Jayhawk Gary Louris, which matches McKee, scream for scream, especially on the closing title track where Maria sends packing the guy she's been chasing all along. She's all over the place--"I'm Gonna Soothe You" is soul, "Only Once" honky-tonk, "I Can't Make It Alone" hard-edged pop--but it all works because McKee has finally reconciled her spirituality with her need for the sensual, over-the-top anthem. --David Cantwell

Customer Reviews:

Soothes the Soul.......2006-02-24

Maria soothes the soul with this, her second solo album. Backed by the Jayhawks and old-friends from her Lone Justice days, she rips through the songs--some originals, some cover versions--with abandon. For proof, listen to "I'm Gonna Soothe You," which basically wraps you in its warmth. "My touch is gentle, my body is warm ..." she sings, stepping out from the speakers. She's sexy, saucy, inviting and sweet all at once; and envelops you with her passion. Further proof: Her wondrous remake of the Goffin-King classic "I Can't Make It Alone"; and her raucous ode to her Lone Justice days, "My Girlhood Among the Outlaws." A true classic - and for $7, a no-brainer. Buy it.

The Female Version Of Tom Petty.......2006-02-19

Mckee after left Lone Justice,(80s Mtvs favorites) wanted to lead her music to a new level, she had folk , southern and country influences she wanted to capture in a studio , so with the help of Justices former keyboardist Mr. Brody and Don Was in production she started with her Van Morrison favorite tunes and musical references as well Tom Petty teachings and some of his musicians too, the result is an album with all the melancholly of southern, the beauty of the depressing lyrics in some tracks and the emotion of love , lost love and hope of love, life, childhood memories and even some sense humor for a broken heart such as in "only once" , only a few girls have followed the path that country southern and blues legends (cash, Petty etc.) started and Maria Mckee is one of them "You Gotta Sin to Get Saved" is one of the highest points in her career same as in "Life is sweet"
HM

Queen among the outlaws........2005-07-18

She's only known by hits like "Show Me Heaven" and a song written for Quentin Tarantino's soundtrack Pulp Fiction "If Love Is A Red Dress". But she's on a scene more than twenty years. She started in early eighties as a lead singer and songwriter in the roots rock band Lone Justice. After they disbanded in 1986 she went solo. Three years later she recorded her first solo album Maria McKee.
This is her second album. A mix of soul and country music. The covers (Van Morrison's My Lonely Sad Eyes and The Way Young Lovers Do, Gerry Goffin and Carole King's I Can't Make It Alone) sounds like they are recorded for the first time and like her own. Few country songs Only Once and My Girlhood Among The Outlaws are beutiful love songs that could be done by Gram Parsons or Emmylou Harris, not to mention Precious Time or Why Wasn't I More Grateful, You Gotta Sin To Get Saved or I'm Gonna Soothe You.
This album is a masterpiece.

Maria's hidden gem.......2004-03-07

This is most definitely a classic album from Maria. In fact, it's her best. I am sorry that it hasn't received more recognition from the new country community, but that's how the cards fall sometimes. Everything from the sweet memphis sound of "I'm gonna soothe you" to the bittersweet "Only Once", is a showcase for the endless talents of Ms. Mckee. Like most of the alt-country she was bred on the punk sound of the eightees and traditional folk music that was ignored at the time. Her only misfortune was bad timing. The decade of Van Halen and Poison would have had a difficult time appreciate a work of art in this vein. If you like Chrissie Hynde and/or Janis Joplin, this album is perfect for you.

A CD worth saving.......2004-02-12

Maria McKee was on fire in the mid-80's, first with Lone Justice and then out on her own. Her commercial success wasn't as huge as her talent, but on the bright side maybe that's why we can buy a CD like this for 7 bucks. While I prefer her earlier material, and she seems to be slowing down a bit in this 1993 release, it is a fine recording.

She experiments with some new sounds here, if a decade-old recording that heavily references influences from two decades earlier can be spoken of as in any way "new". We suddenly have Maria with horns and songs in several genres that fit broadly under a blue-eyed soul umbrella. These include the opening disco-like track, two Van Morrison covers (and a couple of songs that mimic his style), and material that sounds more like Muscle Shoals. There is also some country music and some simple ballads. I'm not sure her voice is best-suited to the material here - I preferred her as a more enthusiastic rocker - but her performances are top-notch.

Some of the instrumentation can sound dated, unlike her earlier recordings (distorted electric guitar solos that are lovely but from another time, or disco influences), but there's some great songwriting here. Mostly, this is a pleasant recording that lets me enjoy one of my favorite voices doing music that isn't quite my favorite. I've always liked the homier version of "I Can't Make It Alone" by the Continental Drifters, and McKee does a nice cover here, but her (amazing) voice nearly overpowers the material. There are some truly outstanding moments, though. "Only Once" sounds like a young Emmylou Harris covering an old country song, but with a stronger voice than Emmylou ever had, and I was shocked that Maria wrote this one herself - it sounded like genuine country. I can see why some reviews felt she was genre-shopping on this CD, but she does this genre in a way that would make Gram Parsons proud. "My Girlhood Among the Outlaws" is a wonderfully mature song also penned by McKee, and "Why Wasn't I More Grateful (When Life Was Sweet)" is another high point, one of those Van Morrison-inspired songs at least in style. I presume the later (out-of-print) "Life Is Sweet" is an allusion to this song. The rollicking title track is a sing-along novelty that sounded silly at first, but has grown on me. It sounds like it would have been a crowd-pleaser in concert.

Overall, this is a more subdued Maria McKee than in her earlier work, and I preferred her with a plain old guitars-bass-drums rock band, or with the folksier sound of her first solo CD, instead of with the brass and somewhat softer vocals here. But her voice is still at its peak, the songs are well-written, and while it may be a bit dated, it's a bargain and it's one of a half dozen chances to hear this great voice on an original CD.

Average customer rating: Coonass to the bone! Back Home On Saturday Night Bland Lame Mockery Slight disagreement.... Correction regarding "Jolie Blonde"

Evangeline Made: A Tribute to Cajun Music Various Artists Manufacturer: Vanguard Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Zydeco | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Cajun & Creole | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Adieu False Heart Best of the Savoy Doucet Cajun Band Creole Bred: A Tribute to Creole & Zydeco Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood It'll Come To You: The Songs of John Hiatt ASIN: B000060OL9 Release Date: 2002-03-05

Tracks:

1. Vagabond Special - Cajun All-Star Band
2. La Chanson d'une Fille de Quinze Ans - Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy
3. Diggy Liggy Lo - John Fogerty
4. Je Veux Plus Te Voir - Linda Thompson
5. Pa Janvier Laisse Moi M'en Aller - Patty Griffin
6. Les Flammes de'Enfer - Richard Thompson
7. Ma Mule - David Johansen
8. Ma Blonde Est Partie - Maria McKee
9. Blues de Bosco - Rodney Crowell
10. O, Ma Chere Tite Fille - Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy
11. Valse de Balfa - Linda Thompson
12. Two Step de Prairie Soileau - Cajun All-Star Band
13. Arrette Pas La Musique - Nick Lowe
14. Tout Un Beau Soir en me Promenant - Maria McKee

Amazon.com

Cajun music might not need a tribute--after all, it has held its own and remained popular for a very long time now--but the music on this disc is glittering enough to shine in any company. Ann Savoy (the grande dame of Cajun music who assembled this project) and Linda Ronstadt pair up to gorgeous effect on two songs, Richard Thompson offers his own particular edgy style to "Les Flammes d'Enfer," Nick Lowe sounds convincingly Arcadian on "Arrette Pas la Musique," and Maria McKee brings a transparent soulfulness to her contributions. Surprisingly, however, no one tackles the Cajun anthem, "Jolie Blonde." There are plenty of other big names in the collection, with former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty standing out on the classic "Diggy Diggy Lo"--but then his former band always featured the bayou influence. Ironically, however, it's the two instrumental cuts by the anonymous band of Cajun all-star musicians that come across best, showing that even when the stars come out to play, there's never a complete substitute for authenticity. These American roots are strong indeed. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

Coonass to the bone! .......2007-01-10

If you are not familiar with Cajun music, this is a great way to start. Some very good artists play some classic cajun tunes. I love it.

Back Home On Saturday Night.......2005-07-15

This album is so much like being back on the bayou once again on a Saturday night, dancing on old wooden floors, having a cold drink and playing pool. The songs transform a car or living room into a long lost world of childhood nights when people had not much money, but something to laugh about, and took time to make the most of what they did have. I am definately buying my memories today.

Bland Lame Mockery.......2005-06-29

What should have been done with this project - Ann Savoy where is your common sense(?) - was to have incorporated TRUE Cajun artists' 'tributes' alongside mainstream artists' watered down lame interpretations just, if only, to add a bit of spice, zest and life to these horrendous "filler" tracks. Some of these artists have jumped on the wagon for a last gasp of possible exposure to their sagging careers. I'm very disappointed in Linda Ronstadt - seems all her projects from the past decade beyond her "Feels Like Home" album are mere warmups for indistinct singing which plainly implies she'd be much better off singing somewhere in a choir in anonymous obscurity. Somebody needs to grab Linda and shake her back to her own musical realities - what a shameful waste of her vocal abilities. [Ronstadt is leaving her "tierra" of Tuscon, Arizona in 2005 for a move back to San Francisco after a decade in commercial career doldrums - an obviously planned prestaging for a future "comeback" to her rightful throne as the Queen Of Pop.] If Ann Savoy envisioned massive universal exposure and commercial success for Cajun Music by influencing these 'blasts from their own pasts' to perform this genre of music, she was way off the mark and this entire project misfires. The artists on this tribute may indeed love Cajun, but, their musical visions fall flatly off base too fast. Sure, all music is out there and can be 'covered' by whoever wishes to do so, but, at least create an impressive contribution for the sake of keeping it vibrantly alive. We in Texas recognize and applaud the true Cajun artists[both famous and obscure]who come across the TX-LA border to perform at local & statewide celebrations only to leave audiences mesmerized and blown away long after they've packed up and gone back home to perform elsewhere. If you must have Cajun music in your collection out of a sincere love and appreciation for it, PLEASE look up the genre's rightfully endowed artists and obtain their Cd albums instead - at least give them their due.[You can also listen to Cajun Music saturday mornings for a few hours on Houston's own KPFT 90.1 FM on the internet at www.kpft.org - nothing but the real stuff is played there!]

Slight disagreement...........2004-12-02

I disagree with the previous review on a few things. First of all, CCR WAS influenced by Swamp Pop, but Swamp Pop is HEAVILY influenced by Cajun music; for those who don't know, it's essentially the music that came out when young Cajuns decided to play rock and roll instead of their own music, and they added Cajun instruments, rhythms and French lyrics to rock and roll, forming a "new" (but actually evolved) style of music. But that's just a technicality.

To make a forced distinction of Ann Savoy as an "adopted Cajun", while true, doesn't invalidate her knowledge of Cajun music and the lifestyle. She's been living in Eunice, LA for decades with her husband, Marc Savoy, the famous accordion builder and musician who played with such seminal musicians as Nathan Abshire and the Balfa Brothers. Ann became famous long ago for publishing "Cajun Music Vol. 1", which has become essentially a bible for Cajun musicians and fans of the music. Plus, don't forget the Cajun saying that there are three ways one can become a Cajun; you can be born Cajun, marry a Cajun, or come through "la porte d'en arriere" (the back door).

Lastly, to recommend Zachary Richard to someone who knows nothing about Cajun music is absurd. Richard is a singer-songwriter who plays primarily guitar (he's a relatively poor accordion player... his real strength is in his songwriting and stellar vocal skills). His music is, while phenomenal, a WORSE reflection of the true Cajun music sound than this record. For someone who really wants to get introduced to Cajun music, try an album by The Balfa Brothers, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Balfa Toujours, or, to stay in the Savoy vein of things, the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band or, best of all, the Savoy Family Band.

By the way, the name can be and is spelled both "Savoy" and "Savoie". Ann and her husband Marc spell it "Savoy". The area of Eunice where they live is also called "Savoy", after Marc's family, and driving up the highway, you see a sign that says so.

Correction regarding "Jolie Blonde".......2004-10-14

I thought this album was lovely with haunting songs, especially Patty Griffin's "Pa Janvier, Laisse Moi M'en Aller," and Anne Savoy & Linda Ronstadt's "La Chanson d'une Fille de Quinze Ans." A correction of an earlier review by someone else: Jolie Blonde" does indeed make its appearance on this album, under the title of "Ma Blonde Est Partie." Different title, same melody!

Average customer rating: Top Shelf Maria Beautiful songs! Excellent. Absolutely Lovely Songs Maria's Voice Still Soars

Peddlin' Dreams Maria McKee Manufacturer: Eleven Thirty ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: High Dive Late December You Gotta Sin to Get Saved Live in Hamburg Lone Justice ASIN: B0007XBMBQ Release Date: 2005-04-19

Tracks:

1. Season Of The Fair
2. Sullen Soul
3. Turn Away
4. Peddlin' Dreams
5. My One True Love
6. People In The Way
7. The Horse Life
8. Drowned And Died
9. Appalachian Boy
10. Everyone's Got A Story
11. Barstool Blues
12. (You Don't Know) How Glad I Am

Amazon.com

Singer-songwriter Maria McKee takes a more organic approach on her sixth album. Most tracks start with the faint strum of an acoustic guitar or the tinkling of a piano, before gradually building to a restrained but emotionally charged crescendo. McKee revels in this less-is-more musical environment. Her multioctave voice moans, hovers, whispers, and occasionally soars with a cool confidence. From the yearning folk augmented with subtle, tender strings of "Appalachian Boy," to "Sullen Soul," a powerful riff-driven ballad, to the stylized, Patsy Cline-influenced country-pop of "You Don't Know How Glad I Am," she floats and weaves with edgy grace. The aching, soulful "Turn Away" is a riveting example of McKee at her finest, clawing her way into the heart of a song.

Some melodies don't resonate on first listen but gradually take hold, and are aided immensely by the spare, generally acoustic instrumentation. When McKee kicks into a gritty, strangulated Neil Young guitar on "Everybody's Got a Story" before shifting into his "Barstool Blues" (the album's only cover) the effect is galvanizing. Always a dramatic singer, McKee's heart is obviously in this rootsy, often austere music, and her passionate performances on Peddlin' Dreams resonate with tenderness and intensity. --Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews:

Top Shelf Maria.......2007-03-17

Definately one of Marias finer albums. She has always amazed me through the years, even through some fairly mediocre releases. This one though shows her in top form vocally and musically. Great arrangements, although a few a little to country for my taste. But hey, that is part of who Maria is.

Beautiful songs!.......2006-01-05

After hearing her wonderful contributions to the cajun tribute album "Evangeline Made", I thought I would give her a try and purchased this CD. These songs are simply gorgeous!

Excellent........2005-07-13

A killer set of tunes in her best album so far, mellow and tender in a country kind of way with the occasional blast of neil young like guitar.
Just gets beter and better with every play.

Absolutely Lovely Songs.......2005-05-30

Although I am an admirer of the fact that Maria Mckee has the ability to consistently shift genres (seemingly) effortlessly from album to album, I was very pleased to discover that this album has more than a little common - in feeling - with my favorite of her recordings, Life is Sweet. Alas, the Bowie flavored guitar is gone but the tone set by the quieter tracks on that 96 album is very much accounted for. "My One True Love", "People in the Way", and "Everyone's Got a Story" are my favorites among the acoustic based gems on this strongly song oriented work. I love the fact that all of these songs have such memorable hooks, but some don't reveal themselves until a second or third listen. And don't let the title fool you, but "Sullen Soul" is the most soaringly majestic track on the record, one that just begs to be heard from a car radio on a cool summer night. So if you're on this page already take the plunge and buy the album. I know you're curious.

Maria's Voice Still Soars.......2005-05-22

I just got home from seeing Maria play at The Roxy, and I have to say that her voice remains one of the most astonishing voices on the planet. It is just crystal, and the emotion she puts into her performances -- and her songwriting -- is something that few of today's performers seem to be able to muster.

Having watched and listened to Maria for 20 -- TWENTY! -- years now, I can say that she continues to dazzle. I don't know how she never became one of the world's top artists. But those of us who are lucky enough to pay attention know where talent lies. And it lies in the heart of Maria McKee.

Buy her albums. All of them.

Average customer rating: Awful One of my favorite Maria McKee cds Addictive Listening Major Misstep From a Great Singer Jagged Little Diva, or Ziggy McKee, or in Utero Mariae?

Life Is Sweet Maria McKee Manufacturer: Geffen Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: You Gotta Sin to Get Saved High Dive Maria McKee Peddlin' Dreams Shelter ASIN: B000000OUN Release Date: 1996-03-26

Tracks:

1. Scarlover
2. This Perfect Dress
3. Absolutely Barking Stars
4. I'm Not Listening
5. Everybody
6. Smarter
7. What Else You Wanna Know
8. I'm Awake
9. Human
10. Carried
11. Life Is Sweet
12. Afterlife

Album Description

2003 reissue of the ex-Lone Justice frontwoman's 1996 solo album that's unavailable domestically. Spectrum. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Awful.......2007-07-13

Awful. You Gotta Sin To Get Saved is by far a much better record than Life Is Sweet, there's some real gems on You Gotta Sin To Get Saved but also a lot of filler-album tracks. I'm glad I got Life Is Sweet out of the library and didn't spend my hard earned money on it. And believe me, my money is hard earned. Not like that you sicko, get your mind out of the gutter.

One of my favorite Maria McKee cds.......2007-04-24

I saw her perform this album in Austin Tx. She has the voice of an angel and the song writing is pretty good too.

Addictive Listening.......2006-02-24

"Life is sweet, bittersweet, and the days keep rollin' along ..." Where once the absolutely sweet Maria conquered the rough terrains of country-rock, this 1996 foray feasts on feedback, discordant chords and lyrics that at first listen make little sense, all wrapped inside a package of glitter rock that's far rawer than anything the Zig-meister ever released. You gotta love it. What makes this so great is the music itself, which pushes, punches, grabs and kicks with all of the ferocity of Maria's muscular live shows, which have always rocked much, much harder than her studio albums. Lyrically, too, she discards straight ahead explorations of life and love of her previous releases in favor of the scarred lovers, damaged psyches and shattered souls shunted aside by society. In so doing, she's shaped an album that's more than just a rewarding listen. It's a reflection of the jagged, subconscious streams that course through all of us--though we may be loathe to admit it.

Major Misstep From a Great Singer.......2005-03-21

Always a remarkable vocalist, Maria McKee really dropped the ball with this one. It isn't the absence of the country edged rock she made with her band Lone Justice (sort of Dolly Parton fronts the Blasters), nor is it that this one distances itself from the more polished sound of her first two solo efforts. The problem here is that few of the tracks on "Life is Sweet" can even be identified as songs. The production is far too overbearing that it drowns any melodic or lyrical interest that might have been present with a more comprehensive approach. The most die hard of McKee fans might want this to complete their collection, but newcomers should, without question, pass this one by.

Jagged Little Diva, or Ziggy McKee, or in Utero Mariae?.......2004-07-11

One of the other reviewers commented on how successful this album was at annihilating Maria McKee's commercial fortunes. Given the rich roots music repertoire and homey-but-sultry phrasing and vocal tone she had built up with Lone Justice and in her solo career, that's understandable. Why destroy a blueprint that works so beautifully? Well, in this case, it's because the new plan is also preciously valuable.

This album has absolutely zilch to do with anything that Maria had ever done previously in her career. Gone are almost all traces of country or RnB influence. She replaces that with the distorted guitar (played by Maria!) cum orchestral arrangements approach Mick Ronson used on such David Bowie albums as The Man Who Sold the World, Hunky Dory, and Ziggy Stardust, while her lyrical and vocal approach here mirrors the nearly-psychotic confessional fury of Alanis Morisette, or, more accurately, Kurt Cobain, and uses a generally thinner tone in quieter moments than she used earlier in her career. Jarring rhythm shifts and vocal howls. Bracing guitar work. Most of the songs here reflect an obsession with abandonment, betrayal, pain, and multiple personality disorders. Not easy listening by any means! However, for the most part, the album resonates.

A track-by-track assessment:

1) Scarlover (9/10) - An angry whammy-bar riff, growling vocal savagery, and a soaring chorus very highly reminiscent of Bowie's early '70s space-rock shenanigans. Although I'm sure most Maria fans threw things at the stereo in dumbfounded dismay at hearing this, it's very good for what it is. Also, the bridge, with the Little Diva cooing in her "old voice," takes the song over the top.

2) This Perfect Dress (8/10) - One of the quietest songs on the album. The spaghetti western instrumental track and vocal restraint make this the song on this album which most closely resembles her prior career.

3) Absolutely Barking Stars (10/10) - What a great song - Maria croons like a female Chris Isaak in the verses, howls like Alanis at her most desperate in the chorus, and coos the title like Juliana Hatfield. And the fantastic distorted guitar riffs - the great chorus riff stolen from the bridge of "Ziggy Stardust" and the wailing break - that's Miss "Show Me Heaven" rocking out! Wow!!!

4) I'm Not Listening (7/10) - The most abrasive cut on the album, dramatically contrasting the quiet, piano-driven verses with the jaggedly angular choruses, building up to a break in which Maria scream-shouts her guts out like Kurt in "Scentless Apprentice." This one has grown on me over time.

5) Everybody (8/10) - Relentlessly unsyncopated pounding in the verses combined with a remarkably catchy chorus. This is the most radio-ready thing here - it's quite easy to imagine it on mid-90s radio, but of course Geffen Records viewed this album as a piece of manure and had no desire to market it, so.....

6) Smarter (8/10) - Another soaring Bowiesque chorus. Roiling guitar work.

7) What Else You Wanna Know (6/10) - Midtempo, interesting riff.

8) I'm Awake (7/10) - The closest thing to a ballad here. Smooth orchestral texture.

9) Human (6/10) - Another midtempo number with a brooding guitar riff. Maria uses her falsetto to good effect.

10) Carried (4/10) - Yet another midtempo song, bland chorus, by far the most forgettable thing here.

11) Life is Sweet (10/10) - After all the bitterness, anger, anxiety, and anguish of the rest of the tracks, Maria unleashes her valentine to humankind, a moving manifesto of compassion using detailed lyrical snapshots of her objects of affection. (Note: the only misstep in this masterpiece of a song, Maria's favorite in her own catalogue, is "this one is for the girl who says those voices in her head never leave her alone.... you're not crazy." Um, Maria, that would be the very dictionary definition of crazy....) She accompanies herself with subdued, clipped electric strumming while delivering one of her most impassioned vocals in a lullaby half-whisper. This track has a vulnerability reminiscent of Paul Westerburg's desperate romantic confessionals with the Replacements.

12) Afterlife (8/10) - "Life is Sweet" erupts into this coda of squalling reverb guitars, sweet strings, tribally pounding tom-toms, and Maria's wailing glossalalia. Other fans have compared this to My Bloody Valentine, which isn't fair to that band's artistry. Most folks assert that the redux of "Life is Sweet"/"Afterlife" on Maria's next album, High Dive, is inferior, but that is, in my opinion, mostly because her vocal on that album until the coda is too restrained and mannered. I think that "Afterlife" is far, far better on High Dive, because it gives a greater centrality to Maria's vocalizing and provides much more convincing instrumental evidence that life is indeed sweet.

What more can I say about this album? that its commercial fortunes were tragically unfair. that Maria fans tend to be far too critical of what is a near-masterpiece just because it doesn't sound like the Maria they first warmed up to. that, although it's not what she'll be remembered for, it's the best thing in her catalogue. that you should write to Geffen and lambast them for deleting it. that you should write to the Little Diva and tell her thank you. Purchase used and enjoy.

Average customer rating: My Album of the Year for 2003 Ambitious and brilliant Maria, you still haven't landed interesting? different? Wow.....What a mess

High Dive Maria McKee Manufacturer: Viewfinder Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Jangle Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Dream Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Baroque Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Peddlin' Dreams Life Is Sweet You Gotta Sin to Get Saved Late December Maria McKee ASIN: B000089HD8 Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

1. To The Open Spaces
2. Life Is Sweet
3. After Life
4. Be My Joy
5. High Dive
6. My Friend Foe
7. In Your Constellation
8. Love Doesn't Love
9. We Pair Off
10. No Gala
11. Non Religious Building
12. Something Similar
13. From Our T.V. Teens to the Tomb
14. Worry Birds

Amazon.com

Maria McKee's first studio album in seven years is also her first release on her own label. To go from producing an inescapable global hit like "Show Me Heaven" to funding one's own recordings in a little over a decade may not seem the ideal career trajectory, but the truth is that McKee was always far more indie rocker than pop diva. "Show Me Heaven" certainly paid a few bills, but it also served to overshadow her sterling earlier work with Lone Justice. High Dive, then, is McKee as she would prefer to be seen--far closer to Kirsty MacColl than Whitney Houston, a wry, literate singer-songwriter blessed with a voice that's both technically pristine and approachably human. Though High Dive is marred in spots by over-fussy production, the best moments here, such as the wise and witty title track and the unabashedly Lone Justice-like "In Your Constellation," justify McKee's investment in herself. Andrew Mueller

Customer Reviews:

My Album of the Year for 2003.......2006-02-24

The Little Diva's first album since 1996's brilliant Life Is Sweet is a tremendous, five-star effort. Since its release in April of 2003, I've probably listened to it - no joke here - at least 1000 times. 2000 times. How's that possible? On the way to work; on the way home; running errands; and here at home. The tracks, in total and apart, have a narcotic-like effect; one listen and you'll be hooked. "In Your Constellation" has a Neil Young-like vibe, a la "Like a Hurricane," that sends me flying into the stratosphere and higher; "Be My Joy" is, well, just plain intoxicating; and the dramatic "Non Religious Building" is as potent as songs come: "Suicide/ever think of suicide/see your friends the day you take your life/kind of helps you decide..." I was hesitant about the remake of "Life Is Sweet"/"Afterlife" ... but, ya know what? It's as good as the original - and the backing vocals are to die for, both there and elsewhere. My album of the year for 2003.

Ambitious and brilliant.......2005-05-21

Pivoting off of the jaw-dropping brilliance of Life Is Sweet, Maria McKee proudly brushes off the major-label record industry and skips off into the sunset with another big album full of surprises. As time moves on, much of the predictable Lone Justice sound of her early years starts to not hold up so well. But this is a good thing because as High Dive shows, Maria McKee has talent to burn. If you are as passionate about this music as Maria herself is, you'll have little interest in going back to the You Gotta Sin To Get Saved days.
High Dive is certainly less focused than Life Is Sweet, but it builds on the rock-opera/broadway play moments that surfaced during the Life Is Sweet tour. "To The Open Spaces", "High Dive", "In Your Constellation", "Non Religious Building" and particularly "From Our T.V. Teens To The Tomb" are triumphant rock and roll blissed out golden moments that would make Pete Townshend smile. One can easily see a theatrical production written by McKee taking shape from these songs. It would have been nice to maybe have a few less songs on this collection, because sometimes it's easy to get lost amid the ambition. If you can excuse that, bring this little gem on a summer night's drive somewhere where you can safely drive over the speed limit. With the volume turned up just right, you won't be able to stop smiling.
If "Life Is Sweet" was McKee's masterpiece, "High Dive" is it's brilliant kid-sister who maybe didn't get enough attention growing up.
Leaving Geffen Records was the best thing that ever happened to Maria McKee. She is a treasure and the arc of the growth of her songwriting has been as exciting to watch as the careers of Joni Mitchell and Neil Young.

Maria, you still haven't landed.......2005-04-20

I absolutely LOVE this album -- favorite of the year. I see the user reviews are all over the board. I guess I am not surprised. I was taken aback by her prior album, Life is Sweet. Maybe I was expecting something more like her earlier work then, but I got into it over time and I still love it. So I think I was more open minded and trusting when High Dive came out after so many years, having no idea what to expect. I can't say I love every track on the second half of the disk, but there's just so much that is GREAT and it is so unbelievably ambitious. Just a huge record. Thank you, Maria.

interesting? different?.......2004-03-31

I agree with much in the reviews below, which I found informative enough to put off buying this CD from a dearly loved singer for many months. In the end, I couldn't resist a chance to hear Maria sing new material, and much of what I regret after a half dozen listenings has been said by others. If you liked Lone Justice and/or the first two solo CD's more than Life is Sweet, you may well be disappointed by the music here. This may be a difficult piece of art much more sophisticated than her earlier work that I simply haven't studied carefully enough to appreciate. I think that's a little pretentious for pop music, though. The songs and arrangements do sound like Broadway show tunes, and there are probably a lot of Maria McKee fans besides me who are not especially fond of show tunes. I disagree with a reviewer who suggested that one of the songs sounds a lot like Lone Justice. The re-recorded version of Life is Sweet makes a good song that is otherwise out of print available, but the original version was recorded better, in my opinion. In general, the lyrics lean toward the morbid, bitter, and bleak, when they're coherent and comprehensible. I have no clue what some of these songs are even about and the arrangements, though often creative and original, can also come across as simply strange mixes of genres. Maria lowers her voice enough to sound like a David Bowie imitator on "Non Religious Building," and I think it's no coincidence that several of the reviews below mention Bowie, who also had a fondness for theatrical music. I agree with a reviewer below that the title track sounds autobiographical, but if that's the case, the verse about how she could have made it to the top if she'd been more ruthless is embarrassing. Maria McKee made it close to the top, and she's not the only singer with great talent who didn't enjoy all the commercial success they may have deserved and perhaps would have received if they'd made different choices or simply had better luck. It seems graceless to whinge about this 20 years later, even to a listener who thinks Ms. McKee's singing was one of the musical high points of the 1980's.

The production of this recording, unfortunately, buries her great voice in the mix. The first three times I listened to this CD on a fairly good car stereo, I thought Maria was singing softly, without much feeling, and that her voice must have aged to the point of not being able to belt them out the way she used to. It was only when I listened on an extremely high-end stereo at literally house-shaking volume that I was able to make out that same great voice singing with passion under the accompaniments. And that's what makes me keep listening to this CD. It's a pleasure to hear a favorite voice singing new material, even if that material isn't memorable; I don't think there's one great song here. In the end, if the French horn that accompanies the "playing my trumpet" line on "High Dive" is reminiscent of a Burt Bacharach song, I'd rather listen to Dionne Warwick use that sound with much more flair on a real Burt Bacharach song.

I'm glad to see this singer still performing, and still taking risks, even if her artistic direction is taking her away from my personal tastes. But if your tastes don't run toward Broadway, or if you are not an extremely die-hard fan, I would not recommend this purchase. As an extremely die-hard fan who wanted a complete collection, I don't regret buying the CD, but in the long run I imagine I'll be spending more time with Maria's earlier recordings.

Wow.....What a mess.......2003-12-18

I will start by saying that there was a time when I thought anything this woman wrote or sang was gold. I have listened to this album three times now and, at best, it is sounds like "B" sides and throw aways from other efforts. A few times, I thought I was listening to a bad lounge act. Maria, you can do much more! I wanted badly to like this album. Instead, I got out her "You got to sin to be saved" CD and remembered happier times.

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