Customer Reviews

Get Away From Me

5 star:		(92)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Maybe after you've played Nellie McKay's triumphant "Get Away from Me" through a couple of times you'll begin to imagine that she fell into a warp in the space/time continuum after coming out of a screening of Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew Too Much" when it first played in the mid-1950s, and ended up in the urban here and now.

Influenced as much by Billie Holliday (the bluesy "Manhattan Avenue") and 1950s Doris Day lollypop ("I Wanna Get Married"), and 1950s jive ("It's a Pose") as by today's jazz and hiphop ("Sari," "Baby Watch Your Back"), she shows that at 19 she has a vision and an attitude all her own ("Change the World," "Suitcase Song," "Really") as this New York idol enters the scene with this 18-song, two CD collection (the discs are called "side 1 and side 2," as if to evoke the image of vinyl).

Words burst forth behind her sassy alto, jagged rhythms, and jazz riffs--with references to Monty Python, Dr. Phil, and New York street life. She seems amazed and alarmed at contemporary America, but it's not going to let her get her down. ("In any case there's no use in mopin" at strange elections and the death of Sen. Wellstone, she notes in "Sari.") Ms. McKay is quite an instrumentalist, too. She plays piano, organ, recorder, vibes, chimes, glockenspiel, xylophone, and synthesizer.

Notes and asides: Obviously the title is meant as a dig at Norah Jones, but surely there's room for both artists. (Wake up to Nellie, go off to dreamland with Norah.). . . The "explicit content" warning is perhaps a tad overdone, just a few four-letter words here and there-words the kids have all heard before . . . Voters who every Memorial Day cast their ballots for "Stairway to Heaven" as number 1 should, err, stay away from this one. On the other hand, those who vote "Layla" in as number 2 will probably like it.

Tonight, I saw Nellie McKay perform in person... with just her on a small empty stage, her little piano keyboard... and only her voice and immense talent to lean on. She confirmed she's a singer to watch in years to come. I first caught this talented singer on David Letterman a few weeks back singing a quirky little song, "The Dog Song" that was odd, spunky and cute in a way that couldn't help but bring a smile to your face. You'll get the same feeling and more from McKay's CD. It's a ecletic mix of jazz stylings, unique attempts at hip-hop rap, and old style ballads with a quirky edge... that's different from anything else I've heard recently. She's a breath of TRUE fresh air in a music world filled with cliched pop retreads from Britney to American Idol. The positive postings on this site about McKay's CD are all TRUE and WELL DESERVED... leading me to say BUY THIS CD! But, if you get a chance to catch McKay sing in person ...like she performed tonight before an intimate showcase crowd at the Paradise Lounge in Boston, you WON'T be disappointed. We're a tough crowd to please in Boston, just ask the NY Yankees... yet, McKay easily wowed over this opinionated music crowd with her quirky, peppy tunes... and edgy stylings that I found quite unique. It's evident she's new to performing before intimate crowds... and her self-effacing style, shy sweetness, and genuine appreciation for her audience was a pleasant contrast to the edgy lyrics and attitude that her CD presents so effectively. By the end of her second song in a 10-song set from her CD... she easily won over this tough Boston University-area crowd ... with the audience - a mix of college age AND middle age folks - cheering her on, loving EVERY song... and lining up to buy her CD by the end of her showcase set. She has a nice style, a cute, winning smile... and unique singing talent and songwriting style that will only mature and grow in the future. But this Freshman effort is well worth the listening time. Hers is a CD to buy... and Nellie McKay is a talent to watch for in the years to come!

My goodness! Now THIS is a debut CD!!

Nellie McKay's "Get Away From Me" is either the best debut CD of the year, or one of the worst. She's clearly too full of creative energy to make anything boring or run-of-the-mill, so instead she offers this - a sprawling 2-CD set that covers about 30 musical styles, with her ethereal voice and strong piano skills as the only consistent threads.

Many reviewers seem a little stunned that such a young woman could create such music. I am too, to a degree - she displays an amazing range, from the torch ballad of "Manhattan Avenue" to the BeeGees-flavored "Change the World" to the Western Swingin' "It's a Pose" to the punkish-rap of "Inner Peace." The arrangements are layered, complex, and infectious - this is one fun album to listen to. Nellie may dive into piano jazz, but she don't make background music.

Nellie's youth becomes more evident in her lyrics, which are often cute, inflammatory, and silly. Some tunes border on novelty items (and some, like "Won't U Please B Nice," cross that border), but only a few hint at the real woman inside. Nellie is a master lyricist, but it's impossible to tell when she's being sincere, and when her words are a smokescreen. My guess is that every song reflects a little piece of her soul, but it's certainly possible that this whole album is a put-on.

Still, if she's going to make music this good, she can put me on any day! "Get Away From Me" isn't for everybody - it's for those who love great music without borders, those who don't have a "favorite" genre of music but love it all, as long as the artist is fueled by creativity. Nellie McKay is clearly one of the most creative artists in recent years - here's hoping she ends up being one of the most prolific as well!

yes its true---everything the say---original new refreshing inpsired witty hearty funny sweet -- great production--lovely versatile voice pitch perfect --- she writes wonderful songs---no posing all truly inspired stuff lush arrangements fine musicians ari roland billy kaye phil stewart jade synstelien who can be heard and seen regularly now at fat cats in the village a new cozy lounge run by mitch borden & the gang from smalls----this nitty gritty jazzy genius vibe is present thoughout---three cheers !! the muse is alive and well in nellie mckay !!!!!a fieball of talent and u get the feeling we aint seen nothin yet !!

A lot has been made recently of Ms. McKay (and here's a fun fact: it's pronounced "Mc-Kai") that's made me curious of her stuff. She's been on Letterman, O'Brian, etc. She's still very young. Blah, blah, blah. None of that stuff is important. What's important: this is an amazing collection of music. If I was to go out and collect a dozen or so various talents to put together some strange tribute album for some haphazard cause, I MIGHT get as interesting a mix of songs as what Nellie McKay does all by herself.

I'm always hearing people trying to compare her to Eminem, which is strange. She IS political. That much is certain. And occasioally, her lyrics are angry, which is such a nice juxtaposition with some of her Doris Day style melodies. But she's never mean. Sarcastic, occasioally, but not mean.

The only other musician that kept creeping into my consciousness while I was listening to this cd was Billie Holiday. Whether or not this was a fair analogy or not, I'm not sure. But when Billie sings "Strange Fruit" and you realize that it's about lynching, then you'll understand what I think Nellie McKay is trying to do, and often succeeding. She's more than writing music; she's advocating social change and forcing you to listen to the lyrics.

For those who care: my favorite songs are "David," "Sari," "Ding Dong," "the Dog Song," and one I don't see mentioned too often "Won't U Please B Nice" which tickles the heck out of me.

The "parental advisory" edition has a few harsh cuss words, so if this is the sort of thing that bothers you, take a gander at her (what Amazon calls) "clean" version. I haven't listened to that one yet, but I plan to buy one soon.

I ordered "Get Away from Me" at my local "record store" out of curiosity, and I'm amazed to see no reviews here yet.

This is a totally terrific cd. The title seems an obvious jibe at Norah Jones' "Come Away with Me." I like Norah Jones' music, but Nellie McKay's cd has an energy and an eccentricity that are miles beyond. Maybe the best comparison is to Van Dyke Parks' "Song Cycle": "Get Away from Me" is another incredibly accomplished first record by a singer-songwriter-pianist who draws upon all sorts of musical influences to make songs that are completely distinctive.

The songs that really stand out (after one day's listening): "David," "Manhattan Avenue," "Sari" ("sorry"), "The Dog Song," "I Wanna Get Married," "Won't U Please B Nice." I hear many influences in this music--reggae, Tom Waits, Rickie Lee Jones, "The Beach Boys Love You" (the loopiest B Boys album), and sixties pop in all sorts of ways. McKay's piano at the start of "Manhattan Avenue" evokes the theme from "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," and her brief piano solos here and elsewhere often suggest Thelonious Monk. Her lyrics are fast, sharp, and artfully rhyming: "i wanna get married / yes i need a spouse / i wanna nice leave it to beaver-ish / golden retriever / and a little white house." Her voice has incredible flexibility and range. And in the words of Muddy Waters, "she's nineteen years old"! I hope Nellie McKay keeps making records for a very long time.

If you're wondering about "explicit" and "clean": I bought the "explicit" version (the "everything on it" version, as the record store clerk called it). The Parental Advisory seems to be a matter of three or four well-chosen instances of the f-word (or variants thereof). I'd have no problem letting my teenaged children listen to it.

I was lucky enough to hear about Nellie a few months back and even luckier to have obtained some demo CD's of her songs. I loved them, she was so "very different" from the usual CD's that make up the charts and from what I was listening to.
When I heard she had signed with Columbia, I was pleased, but as the approach of her release date came closer, I was worried that the songs / uniqueness of her performance that got me "hooked" on those demos would be somehow missing or over-produced.
I didn't need to worry one little bit. This CD deserves all the plaudits it is getting. Nellie has a knack of writing catchy lyrics, playing different styles and it has enough diversity on there for anyone who dares to take the plunge and buys this brilliant CD.
It's always difficult to pick out tracks but for me the standout ones are "Sari" "I Wanna Get Married" & "Toto Dies"
It does seem strange to have the CD spread out over 2 discs. It's not as if you have all the same style of songs on one CD and a different style on the other, they are mixed well throughout both. If, as stated on another review, Nellie did it because of her "love" of playing vinyl, and turning the record over, then I for one hope there will be a version released on vinyl.
Singers like Nellie don't come around too often, lets make sure she stays around for many years to come.
I look forward to listening to her future releases.

I was driving to the Fed X building to drop off a package when I first heard Nellie McKay playing and speaking live on 89.5 fm WPKN in Bridgeport Conn. Though dropping off this time sensitive package was of deep importance to me I was glued to the radio station and could not leave my car, held captivated by this fascinating young woman. Each time she'd play a song on the keyboard the musical and lyrical value were not typical of what I normally hear most singer song writers perform i.e straight ahead rhythms, predictable forms, simple chords, typical "I love you" words etc... I was impressed. Not only that, the answers she gave to the well informed DJ interviewing her were startling intelligent, thoughtful and witty. She kept me on the edge. Imagine my surprise when I found out she was only 19! My curiosity was peaked after the interview and when I returned home I immediately went to the Google search engine and put in her name. This quickly led me Nellie's web sight and there I got a little more insight to this talented musician. The following day, my dear friend TJ Orlando called me up and we chatted about all things as usual and I eventually mentioned my hearing Nellie. Where upon TJ gave out a hearty yell and said she had just been given a package regarding the young songstress. I had TJ quickly send me the 2 discs which make up Nellie first major label release "Get Away From Me". Most probably a title spoof on Nora Jones' "safe" cd "Come Away With Me". Apparently, Nellie wanted to call this double CD "Penis Envy" but I guess that title was too scary for some retail stores who seem more comfortable selling violent computer games - but that's a whole other subject. Maybe for the next CD, when she's a national star, they'll give her more leeway. Anyway, after repeated listenings I must say, I was not disappointed. Here is a genuine super musical talent. Not the kind of one dimensional talent found on American Idol but a multifaceted artist who is bursting at the creative seams. Nellie's song writing compared to 99% of what most artists do when releasing a full disc, is extremely eclectic which taken by itself is a breath of fresh air. Her vocals and subtle arrangements and of course precise production by Beatle engineer turned producer, Geoff Emerick glue it all together. And there is an energy in each song/performance that seems to be more interested in trying to break new musical ground than trying to win the hearts of safe commercial radio. Don't get me wrong, Nellie's music is pop but left of center pop. That's what attracts me to it. Though obviously brought up in an age of rap, Nellie has cleverly incorporated this and other contemporary styles with old world aesthetics found in earlier 20th century song writers like Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, the Beatles (in their mid 60's experimental phase) and Joni Mitchell. There is also an element of jazz that is pervasive in many of the chord structures Nellie uses. All of this adds up to a unique, charming, potpourri of musical servings with some humor to boot. I could go over each song and describe their uniqueness but I think that should be a surprise for the listener who goes out to purchase this work.

The nerve of a young upstart to release such an eclectic debut CD and as a double disc no less! Reminds me of some other American eclectic musical maverick who did the same thing back in 1965: the late great Frank Zappa with his debut double album Freak Out! Well kids, you can freak out on Nellie's new CD. There is plenty to be inspired by here. She sings well (like a young Doris Day), plays piano like a young Diana Krall, is well versed on mallet instruments and writes lyrics that make you laugh and think! Real interesting combination.

As long as Nellie can stay clear of those superficial marketing A&R record company types who try so hard to box an artist into one corner and turn them in to bland one hit wonders, I think we will be hearing a lot more of Nellie. She is the type of artist that can raise the bar for musical talent in these super prefabricated musical times. Yeah, she's only 19 but man, she has serious potential to shake up the music world.

Whether you like Nellie McKay's double-album debut Get Away from Me is entirely dependent on your sensibility. If you're looking for emotionally engaging, cathartic music, look elsewhere. McKay is not interested in trying to move you at all. This is brain music, and to a certain extent booty music; its piano grooves may make you shuffle or bob your head and its lyrics may make you laugh, but it doesn't ever target your heart.

I'm not a big fan of this approach, but I have to say McKay seems to be succeeding at making the music she wants to make. If there's ever an artist who's looking to inherit Frank Zappa's throne, McKay is it. Her voice is a wry, smartass talk-sing that literally flaunts its moments of pitchless amelodicism; her lyrics are offbeat muses, less narrative than bizarre internal monologue; and her arrangements are entirely in the wink-wink tradition of Zappa. McKay's compositions aren't as sophisticated as Zappa's but the effect is the same.

The best tracks on here are the brisker, groovier ones, like the persistent rhythm of "Waiter", the country-rock beat of "It's a Pose", and the light-reggae (!) "David", where McKay appropriates a Sting-like faux-Jamaican accent. As a joke, of course.

Sometimes McKay's wildly careening musical imagination leads her into questionable territory -- "Sari"'s light rap is almost as frivolous as Northern State, and "Inner Peace" is brash and busy but not much else, fading as fast as it arrives. Not my cup of tea, this music, but you gotta give credit to a musician who is so far off the beaten track, she's plowing through the swamps with a bulldozer. If this music doesn't engage your particular sensibility, at least it sounds fresh.

Don't get me wrong. Norah Jones is a great singer, but if you find yourself saturated with all the accolades and "second coming" treatment of Ms. Jones, you may want to check out the fabulously cheeky Nellie McKay. Wow! is the first word (unoriginal I know) that comes to mind when you listen to this outrageously impressive album (can she really only be 19? Her witty, energetic observations and mature tones suggest she's lived several lifetimes.)

There are a wide variety of sounds on here from the ironic lounge sounds of "I Wanna Get Married" (is this the much needed answer to the incredibly sexist Bacharach/David song "Wives and Lovers"?) to the wonderfully feminist-without-being-militant-about-it "It's A Pose."

What I really like about Nellie McKay's voice is that it's classy even when the songs may have some explicit language. The critics are saying she's a cross between Doris Day and Eminem. Well, I like Doris Day, but Nellie McKay is much more like Rosemary Clooney or Susannah McCorkle.

Every song has something to offer, but some of the best ones include:

"David" (the anti-love song?)

"Waiter" (offers more "traditional" pop sounds with lyrics that make you do a double take)

"Baby Watch Your Back" (rap and jazz merge; if you listen to the lyrics carefully, you will probably find yourself relating to the love/hate relationships that many of us have lived through.)

"Dog Song" (my favorite--it's a perfect example of how she can make things we take for granted, walking our dogs, into something meaningful and witty.)

When you consider that Ms. McKay writes all of her own songs with the musical class and style of Bacharach and David but with a 21st century take, you have a hard time believing she's only 19.