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Kasey Chambers
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Carnival
Warner Brothers Records
Release: 9/12/2006
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Rated:
Review by:
Gisele Grignon
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If anyone ever decided to produce Jackson Browne's "The Load
Out" with a female vocalist, Kasey Chambers would (or should)
be at the top of the list. Chamber oozes the same sort of
grittiness as Avril (Post skinny necktie, pre-raccoon-eyed,
"whatever" stage) and the softness and vulnerability of
JoJo.
By the second track, "The Sign on the Door," brace yourself for
The Voices; not ON the track, but ABOUT the track. Here's what
you get for eavesdropping on yourself;
"Hey, this Chambers chick is good."
"Yeah, but it sounds a little bit country."
"So?"
"Or, YIKES, borderline CHRISTIAN."
"Oh, shut up and listen."
Give your noggin a shake.
The only voice you SHOULD be listening to belongs to
Chambers: A solid, convincing lyrical and musical voice for
whom the term "has great potential" likely appeared for the first
time on her birth certificate. This is "easy listening" in the best
sense of the phrase, or perhaps more appropriately, "easy
driving" music, whether you're riding on a hay wagon or a
souped up Alpha Romeo - or even a hybrid. And if you're more
of a public transit type listener, then think: not as country as
Carrie Underwood, but more country than Sheryl Crow.
But this singer-songwriter defies the traditional pigeonholing, so
kick a doorstop under the open door for a sec; you'll soon agree
that the last thing you want to do is slam the door on this
particular Chambers.
Chambers cranks up the honky-tonk, seething,
soon-to-be-ex-lover, but doesn't cross the line-dancing line
into that gosh-darn scary point-of-no-return from cowboy hats
(his and hers) and crop tops (ditto...eeyew!).
Chambers is also adept at avoiding my personal peccadillo: the
overuse of "la la la" fillers. While they're present in cut number 3,
"The Rain," they're neither obtrusive nor obnoxious. No small
feat.
"Hard Road" introduces us to Bernard Fanning, who loses no
time in sucking in the listener. By the time Chambers comes in,
it's a done deal, thanks to the ideal vocal marriage and a
production entourage - Fanning's harmonica et all - that deliver
without resorting to artificial melancholy.
Try listening to Carnival when you're in an
especially cranky mood. Heck, be downright daring and give it a
listen when you're smack in the middle of a patented, personal
all-time prickly mood. Bet even THEN you couldn't find fault with
any part of this Carnival or Kasey Chambers. Go ahead. I dare ya. |
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