Customer Reviews

Get It Right

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4 star:		(3)
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The Kennedy's music has grown deeper, wider and greatly matures with each release. This is largely because Maura Kennedy, who was always a very good singer, has become a great singer. Her levels of self expression and nuance as a vocalist are consistently disarming, moving and provocative. When I listen to her sing, I can tell she has listened to Bonnie Bramlett, Emmylou Harris, Martha Hull, Joni Mitchell, Jackie Ross, Evie Sands, Sandie Shaw, and June Tabor; but Maura never sounds like any other singer. She always has her own voice and approach. The song writing shows as many interests and influences as the singing. The Kennedys have never been content with a predictable 'folk' or 'folk rock' repertoire, and their interests in jazz, blues, gospel, r&b, garage, psychedelic and early punk rock have always shown through in their music. Get It Right is no exception. Just as important is their social and cultural conscience, mixed with a wonderful sense of humor. When they ask/tell us to Get It Right, to strains of a melody courtesy of Marvin Gaye, the importance and poignance cannot be denied. Factor in their great lead work and the fact that they rock, you need to go get this record.

The Kennedys' latest, Get It Right, continues their distinctive friendly pop sound. This one seems to be almost a tour of late sixties / early seventies top 40, with the distictive Kennedys guitars and vocals in the forefront. The well performed, well crafted songs echo with the influences of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On in the title track, to Sergio Mendez' bossa nova/pop in Galaxy Express, to a latin tinged Steve Stills sound in I don't Trust Words. Their "story telling" has grown, in the serious Pearl's Eye View, to the delightful whimsical current "social commentary" in Why Winona Why.

The entire collection is tuneful, listenable and good fun.

It's a great album to start the summer!

Once in a while people who want to Get It Right will Get It Right. From the opening chords of Ride Angel, Ride this one sounds Right. Didn't It Rain sets up the pace and is in definite cover territory for local-local bands. It's a thumper. Familiar soundscapes for Get It Right and onwards. Thoughtful and hook filled, each song gets up and flies. They've lived and researched folk rock thoroughly and always reach good results. These two are pretty pure--maybe too poppy for those Gillian Welch fans--but Pete and Maura could easily do clean, clear water public service announcements in character. On a grey, rainy, cold New England morning this record will put spring in your heart. Warm and fun too (Galaxy Express). Every tune is well polished and Pete Kennedy has the artistry of a session player who always perfectly matches the requirements with sparkling guitars. Attitude always matters and I love their attitude.

Again The Kennedys prove that "Life is Large"! I have witnessed The Kennedys in person at small venues, which is the way I like it, no big crowds and a chance to talk with them face to face. I enjoyed the first listening of the CD, but by the second found this as up lifting as their previous ventures. The title track "Get It Right" is certainly related to the Marvin Gaye standard and The Kennedys made no apologies to that fact at a recent concert. "Pearl's Eye View" has a certain underlying heroic theme that gleans some pride out of a dark piece of our history. There is a bluegrass quality to "Didn't it Rain" which I can only describe as Kennedy-Bluegrass, and is worth a good foot tapping. The Kennedys are careful to keep their music current as they ask the musical question "Why, Winona, Why"?? A variety of musical stylings, Maura's vocal interpretations, Pete's excellent guitar and coffee cup manipulations, and a little help from their friends make this another very worth while project by The Kennedys.