Kathy Kallick put out a very nice album with her old friend Laurie Lewis in which they interpret the songs of the bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park in 2014. Also that year she released a solo record called Cut to the Chase that showcases her deft songwriting and distinctive husky singing style. She wrote all but four of this baker’s dozen, and those other four are co-writes with folk stalwart Clive Gregson.
One of those four, somewhat ironically titled “Same Ol’ Song,” is my favorite on this collection. It’s a gently rocking straightforward country song with an arrangement that is just as straightforward, and all the stronger for it. Kallick and her acoustic guitar are joined only by Canadian bluegrass master John Reischman on mandolins, Cindy Browne on bass and Gregson on guitar and harmony vocals. The song tells the tale of a woman who’s grown just a bit cynical about guys who profess their love but is still tempted by one.
The other three Gregson co-writes are standouts, too. “Franco’s Spain” is a folk ballad about traveling in that country back in the day, with an ever-so-slight hint of political commentary on today’s events; “Time Traveler’s Wife” presents another angle on a book of that title, this time indeed from the wife’s point of view; and “Cut To The Chase” is a rollicking rocker with a Southwestern feel to it, about the night a woman stands up for herself in a seedy bar her boyfriend takes her to.
Kallick excels in bluegrass-type songs with backing from her regular band, so it’s good to lead off with one of those. Take a listen to the opening track “Tryin’ So Hard To Get To You,” particularly the lyrical bass playing of Cary Black:
Add to that a couple of cowboy songs (“The Rustler’s Girl” and “Not As Lonesome As Me”), a simply arranged folk-country number that could’ve been a hit for the Everly Bros. (“When”), and a handful of story songs, including a couple that draw on characters and situations from mythology and fairy tales (“Persephone’s Dream” and “Once Upon”) and solid playing from everyone involved (including guests Sally Van Meter on Weissenborn guitar and Bobby Black on pedal steel) and you’ve got another winner for Kathy Kallick. (It wins my award for worst cover art of the year, but that doesn’t affect the music or my opinion of it one bit!)
(Live Oak, 2014)
