| Easy - Kelly Willis | |
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Reviewed by Jennifer Webb
Every song on Easy is outstanding, which is no doubt because Kelly either wrote or co-wrote most of them, but one really caught my attention, and that was "You Can't Take It With You." There is no question that Kelly is a superb country singer, but this particular song really makes me wonder how a Kelly Willis bluegrass album would sound. Kelly's husband Bruce sings background vocals on most songs while Lloyd Maines plays slide guitar and papoose guitar on a few too. The talent sprinkled on this album is something to be admired, and add that to Kelly's voice and you have something special.
The album's first single, "If I Left You" easily captures the contemplative feelings a person can have after being dumped. She feels that if the tables were turned, she could have handled the situation better because she would not have gone out on the town to have fun, because there would have been respect for the man's feelings. But since the tables were not turned she is alone and drowning in her own misery thinking about how he treats her like dirt by acting like he never even knew her.
A quality song from beginning to end, the slow "What Did You Think," written by husband Bruce Robison, has a beautiful sound to it as we hear about a girl who comforts her guy friend every time one of his relationships goes bad, and every time he places his head on her shoulder she secretly wishes that she could take her own advice and tell him how she really feels. In the end, she questions herself by saying "What in the world do I know about love."
"You Can't Take It With You" is an upbeat song that is so catchy you will want to keep listening to it over and over again. Vince Gill and Dan Tyminski sing backup vocals while Chris Thile (of Nickel Creek) and Paul Glasse play their mandolins. The message in the song is that it does not matter if you are the prettiest thing around or if you have the most successful business around, because although you could pile the accomplishments up pretty high you cannot take them with you when it is your time to leave.
A song about needing redemption and love in her life, Kelly sings "Getting To Me," with such lyrics as "Love is the answer at least for some, but love is the devil when you have none." Most people spend all of their lives "placing their bets on love" and usually it finally happens when you are not even trying to find someone. Just let it reach you in its own sweet time and do not worry about life being at a standstill just because you might be alone.
"Find Another Fool" is so aching and heartfelt that it would fit in perfectly during the classic country days when Tammy Wynnette was big in the business. You better not mess with the country girl in the tune because she will not put up with a guy that keeps crawling back to her. He may want her back but she is sticking to her guns because he never listened to her in the first place so what makes anyone think he will if she takes him back. "The world is full of girls like me. Find a fool to take care of you, that's a girl I'd like to see" is a prominent part of the tune.
After taking some time off to have a baby and get back into the swing of things, music wise, Kelly Willis has made her return with Easy, a collection of ten songs that are no-frills and refreshing to listen to.
Song List:
Sound clips courtesy of Barnes & Noble.
Album cover courtesy of Rykodisc.
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