Kasey Chambers - Wayward Angel Audio CD
A fair review of the Kasey Chambers "Wayward Angel" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all
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Band: Kasey Chambers
Title: Wayward Angel
Rating: 
Release Date: 2004-07-27
Media: Audio CD
Tracks: 1: Pony 2: Hollywood 3: Stronger 4: Bluebird 5: More Than Ordinary 6: Wayward Angel 7: Paper Aeroplane 8: Like a River 9: For Sale 10: Follow You Home 11: Mother 12: Guilty as Sin 13: Lost and Found 14: Saturated
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"Wayward Angel" Soars to New Heights of Pleasure" Once again, this Aussie native serves notice by her insightful lyrics and her keening vocals, often compared to a more angst Emmylou Harris with a trace of Iris Dement's nasal tinge. Prime Cuts: Pony, Bluebird, Like a River
Former lead singer of Australian country band Dead Ringer Band, singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers returns with her third solo album, "Wayward Angel. Like all her solo albums, "Wayward Angel" defies any genre categorization: there's a dose of country-pop, a splash of folk, a pinch of rock and definitely a noticeable slice of bluegrass. Nevertheless, regardless of styles, Chambers has an affecting élan and she is never one to be emotionally peripatetic. Rather, you can hear and feel her heart as she sings with her seasoned nuance through these sylvan tunes.
The album opener, "Pony," an understated pop ballad, finds Chambers putting her best foot forward. Unlike her previous self-depreciative hit "Not Pretty Enough," "Pony" finds a femme fatale making her seductive come-ons performed with a confident and enthralling undertone. "Like a River," the first Australian single, is an effervescent country-pop number with a love struck Chambers basking in the euphoria of love. With an infectious melody and Chambers' fervent performance, "Like a River" stands toe-to-toe with any major country product from Music Row. Clamorous for authenticity, sophomore single "Hollywood," a popish mid tempo number, is a desperate and vulnerable plea; you can almost Chambers' heart breaking as she sings, "This ain't Hollywood this is my heart. " While traditionalists may feel querulous, "Guilty as Sin" finds a zesty Chambers kicking up her heels on her most rock number to date bolstered by some delightful sounding jaunty guitars.
On the more rustic end, Chambers veers perilously close to Emmylou Harris territory with the heart wrenching "Bluebird. " This plaintive country ballad tells the story of an unsavory Chambers questioning the reliability of her paramour's devotion. While the more philosophical "Lost and Found" may not be the best ballad Chambers has had written, but it's performed with verve. Taking a stab at bluegrass, "Follow You Home," boasts some delightful mandolin and banjo solos, resulting in a Rhonda-Vincent-reminiscent piece.
Overall, "Wayward Angel" though marketed as a country album, does not suffer from the Nashville radio gloss. Maybe part of the reason resides in Chambers' insistence that brother, Nash Chambers handles the production. With Nash's deftly touches and Kasey's firm deploy from Nashville's stringent style, "Wayward Angel" truly is an effort that soars well above the escarpments of country music's insipidness. .
Better than Barricades and Brickwalls?
Kasey is a brilliant songwriter and singer who touches me in way almost no one else has. I don't know if I like this album better than Barricades and Brickwalls or not, but I do know they are my two favorite albums of the last 5 years. How such a young girl can write songs that reasonate so strongly with a 60 year old is astonishing. Paper Aeroplane and the Nullabor Song are as emotionally powerful songs as I have ever experienced.
Agree with all the 5 stars
I Quite like this album and I will have to go out and buy it after borrowing a friends. Agree with all the 5 stars - I only just recently gotten into KC via the collab with other Pop/C&W artists on the Dolly tribute album and have been a LRimes fan for over 2yrs now. Critical I am of cover versions I disliked KC for the cover of true colours (CLauper) for the ARL, though I am warming to her melancholy tones and uplifting lyrics.
Don't wait for the US release, get this now.
Her songwriting is as strong as ever. Kasey has a very unique voice and this disc shows that it has matured some since Barricades and Brick Walls. There a several great ballads: More Than Ordinary, Mother, Lost and Found, plus others that really showcase her writing and voice.
If I could, I would knock 1/2 star off because a couple of the tunes lean a bit to the pop side for my tastes (Hollywood, Guilty as Sin). But, that been said her "pop" is better than anything you'll hear on American pop radio these days.
If you don't want to drop $35 or wait for the September US release, you can grab one from Australia on Ebay. It'll take about three weeks to get the the states though.
Either way, it's worth the $$$ or the wait. I hope there isn't such a delay until her next release.
Kasey scores again!
Another great CD by Kasey! She continues to grow as a singer songwriter.
You can see a complete list of all Kasey Chambers discography, or go back to the Kasey Chambers tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.