Jukebox Sparrows

Shannon McNally | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 8, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00005UOFG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,691 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The southern aura of Shannon McNally's full-length debut belies more than her own geographic origins on Long Island's South Shore. Indeed, McNally seems to have absorbed a generation or three of classic American blues, folk, and country influences with nary an ounce of self-consciousness or strained irony. Coupled with "Now That I Know"'s easy, emblematic pop sense and her natural phrasing, McNally's viewpoints range from cynically clear-eyed modern romanticism ("Down and Dirty," "Bolder Than Paradise") to the chilling rape-themed narrative "It Could've Been Me" to the surprising, jazzy impressionism of "Colorado." Comparisons to Sheryl Crow and Bonnie Raitt come naturally, but McNally's musical ambitions are distinctly broader, especially for a singer so early in her career. If the album's midtempo groove occasionally simmers too long, the spare sheen of Ron Aniello's production and stellar session work from the likes of Jim Keltner, James Gadson, Benmont Tench, and Greg Leisz impart a mature, accomplished sensibility. And just when you might think you've got McNally pegged, along comes her most promising delight, a playfully experimental title track rife with ambient samples, a rap-blues inflected telephone-voice narrative, murky rhythms, and bop-inspired instrumental flourishes. A VH1-ready visage has gained her some press, but don't let that distract you. Just trust your ears. --Jerry McCulley

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Life is Good September 21, 2004

By Sharon Nichols

Format:Audio CD

Driving on a Woodstock back road with my windows down, an exquisite sunset invited me to pull over and gasp. There we were... me, a delicious summer meadow and Shannon McNally blaring from the speakers. Yep, life is good.

It's McNally's task in life to provide that on-the-porch-in-a-hammock-swing-with-a-Mint-Julep-on-a-balmy-evening kind of mood. Or here's a drink for ya: two parts Bonnie Raitt, two parts Sheryl Crow, one part Edie Brickell and one part Rickie Lee Jones. Shake. Serve with potato fritters under a cajun moon. Okay, so Shannon McNally is an ex-model, but big whoop. There's nothing particularly precious about her and she doesn't deliver 20-something pop crap. With her smoky vox and a laid back bluesy vibe that's slithery, gritty and gutsy, this 27-year-old Long Island native is a coffeehouse owner's dream. Check out her newly released 11-song debut, Jukebox Sparrows, for some good ole blues abandon.

Apparently, some industry goons think this singer-songwriter should be doing the Alanis Morrisette thing with her all-American, wite-girl good looks. Figures. But McNally feels more at home with the J.J. Cale/ Ry Cooder crowd, and her music should be played in a dimly lit bar with a sticky floor. Loudly. She uses seasoned players on this recording: James Gadson (Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye), Jim Keltner (John Lennon, Ry Cooder), Bob Glaub (Linda Rondstadt, B.B. King), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty), and Greg Leisz (Joni Mitchell), and the result is mid-tempo slide guitar tunes, piano ballads, and earthy roots rock that is easily digestible and hard to dislike. There's nothing too complicated about the way this album feels, and even through production is slick, it's funny how it still winds up sounding organic. These ultra-strong melodies and ample hooks will no doubt provide McNally with wide appeal and great success (and those appearances on Letterman and Conan O'Brien probably didn't hurt either).

"There's nothing wrong with a good hook," says McNally. "There's nothing wrong with a three-and-a-half minute song that you can't stop whistling or humming." Amen to that.

McNally is in the midst of a summer tour with John Mellencamp but was benevolent enough to stop at Woodstock's Colony Cafe on July 19. We sure needed it. No beer or hammocks required; her music provides it all.

Sharon Nichols, Music Editor, Chronogram.com

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the wait January 15, 2002

By Eric Duerr

Format:Audio CD

I first saw Shannon when she played with The Girls Room tour and I picked up her EP with the promise that "full-length Cd coming soon", well almost a year went by and still no word on "jukebox sparrows"...well here it is, finally. Thankfully, it doesn't seem like the record company demanded Shannon "rework" her sound or anything like that and this cd was definatly worth waiting for.
She's been compared to everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Stevie Nicks (in vocal stylings), but Shannon has her own persona rising into alternative rock to contemporary country to blues rock. ALl these sounds mesh very well on the cd, the pop "Now that I know" and the twangy "Start All Over" (my favorite) are great examples of Shannon's wide-spread influences. Her lyrics are simple and straight forward in the great blues style of just "saying what you mean" but there's always a mystery in her voice. Now that this cd is out, I can only hope the next batch of songs don't take as long but then again, I know I'll receive quality music when it finally hits my cd player.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Tip of the iceberg February 25, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

After hearing 'Down and Dirty' on the radio, I wanted to hear more and decided that, after hearing the entire album, 'Down and Dirty' was just the tip of the iceberg as far as the rest of the album is concerned. Loved every track and want more!