Customer Reviews

Bitter Sweet

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are those artists who defy labels. Kim Richey rests comfortably among them. A friend loaned me this CD and with the thought "let it grow on you." And it did! Some compare her music to an early Eagles / California rock to country. That's a fair description. I think what got me was the combination of her well written lyrics and the talent of her surrounding musicians. Each time I hear it, I pick up on things I didn't hear before. And to be honest, I kind when friends come over and ask "Who's that?" I think word of mouth, as shown with the other reviews here speak volumes about Richey's talent.

I love singer-songwriters...John Hiatt, Lyle Lovett, James Taylor, Karla Bonoff...and now, Kim Richey. I can't believe that I hadn't heard of her before now, but saw her recently on Sessions at West 54th with John Hiatt, and immediately had to check her out. Great vocals, fine production, teriffic harmonies, excellent lyrics. I'll blindly buy whatever has her name associated with it.

My wife and I read a bio of this super-talented singer songwriter in Stereophile magazine, and bought the CD on a lark 2 years ago. Suffice to say, if this were a vinyl record, we would have worn it out by now! And, we now own the other 2 Kim Richey titles as well. Every track is a winner on this disc, with Kim and band offering soaring vocals, lyrics and playing that are intelligent, creative and moving. If you are a country-rock fan, and appreciate fabulous music making over commercially attuned hit making, this is a no-brainer----buy this disc now!!

This is one of the best cds you will every buy. She is an inspiration, not only as a song writter, but as a singer and a performer. Her simple clean voice makes you want to sell everything and live in a van and play music. If it were only that easy.

This has been in the CD changer in the convertible ever since I purchased it. When I sold the car and got a new one Bitter Sweet went right in the new convertible's changer.

I had heard a couple of the tunes on a progressive radio station and took a chance on the CD. While I do repeat some of my favorites, there is not a song on here that I skip. They are all good. This is my favorite Kim Richey CD and the place I would start listening to her work. Glimmer would probably be the 2nd CD to get.

Listen to the samples here - then buy this CD!

Kim Richey has always been a hard one to categorize(as if she really needed to be), but unfortunately in a day when commercial success seems to be fueled by what radio format your music can be programmed into, Richey's always been left off the boat. Far too sophisticated and clever for the typically narrow-minded world of Nashville, and maybe too jangly/guitar pop for mainstream radio, she's nevertheless managed to stay the course and put out several first-rate discs, with this one falling somewhere between the slickly-produced but exquisite debut and her even more polished pop-powered third set. Richey's songs here are definately given tons of room to breathe here, with the production using more typically country arrangements and instrumentation(mandolins, banjos)than previously heard in her music. She pulls it off beautifully, particularly on the set's opening six tracks, after which she takes a detour into Mavericks-style country-rock('To Tell The Truth', 'My Whole World'), then slowing down the tempo a bit at the end. And while it fails to live up to the consistently clever hooks of her debut, the best songs here('I'm Alright','Every River','Fallin')are as good as anything on that set. All in all, a more than worthy follow-up to an unbelievably good debut.
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Where Kim's first album had a few individually great songs (e.g., "Just My Luck," "Those Words We Said"), Bitter Sweet is just one hell of an album from start to finish; I can't pick out a single favorite track. The album has a very spare sound, like a live recording, which is fortunate, since her band is really something else. Those who've seen them perform live know that Kenny Vaughan's hollow-body electric guitar with the heavy reverb is almost Richey's trademark sound, and it's right there in the intro of the first song. You can really hear the bass player going at it, as opposed to the two-beat "idiot bass" you hear in so much country music; and check out the drum roll in "I'm Alright" and the harmonica/guitar jam at the end of "Wildest Dreams." The album closes out with a gentle duet featuring Kim and her co-writer/guitarist, Angelo. My point is, it's refreshing to see a singer-songwriter's album that showcases the band as much as the singer. People who dislike country probably won't like this album, but it's their loss.

This is probably the best of her three cd's and the one to get if you've never experienced Ms. Richey. It's a bit more mellow than her first cd (which really rocks on a bunch of songs), but the band got tighter and the songwriting better. I grew up listening to Byrds, Eagles, Flying Burritos, etc. and this keeps the spirit fresh and alive.

If you like singer/songwriters, this is the pinacle. Kim Richey is awesome.

You cannot go wrong with any song on this CD. Kim Richey is an excellent songwriter with a strong voice and a vivid musical imagination. If there was any justice, this CD would be in everybody's collection and LeAnn Rhymes would be playing the Lagoon Stage at the State Fair. Since we all know there is no justice for the masses, find some for yourself and buy this CD.