Customer Reviews

Peddlin Dreams

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just got home from seeing Maria play at The Roxy, and I have to say that her voice remains one of the most astonishing voices on the planet. It is just crystal, and the emotion she puts into her performances -- and her songwriting -- is something that few of today's performers seem to be able to muster.

Having watched and listened to Maria for 20 -- TWENTY! -- years now, I can say that she continues to dazzle. I don't know how she never became one of the world's top artists. But those of us who are lucky enough to pay attention know where talent lies. And it lies in the heart of Maria McKee.

Buy her albums. All of them.

Although I am an admirer of the fact that Maria Mckee has the ability to consistently shift genres (seemingly) effortlessly from album to album, I was very pleased to discover that this album has more than a little common - in feeling - with my favorite of her recordings, Life is Sweet. Alas, the Bowie flavored guitar is gone but the tone set by the quieter tracks on that 96 album is very much accounted for. "My One True Love", "People in the Way", and "Everyone's Got a Story" are my favorites among the acoustic based gems on this strongly song oriented work. I love the fact that all of these songs have such memorable hooks, but some don't reveal themselves until a second or third listen. And don't let the title fool you, but "Sullen Soul" is the most soaringly majestic track on the record, one that just begs to be heard from a car radio on a cool summer night. So if you're on this page already take the plunge and buy the album. I know you're curious.

Few singers in the last thirty-plus years have ever shown as much raw talent as Maria McKee. Fewer still have ever been so underrated by music buyers and grossly underappreciated by radio programmers as her either. Because her music tends to cover many different spectrums, from orchestral pop-rock to alternative to country, Maria, like Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris before her, just can't be pigeonholed by strict radio formats or playlists, and that's why it is so often best to find her music, whether it's her solo albums or the ones she made while the lead singer of Lone Justice, in the record stores rather than on the radio. And that trend continues with her new album PEDDLIN' DREAMS.

In contrast to the orchestral pop-rock of her 2003 album HIGH DIVE, PEDDLIN' DREAMS has a more organic sound to it, harking back to the acoustic country/folk/rock style that Maria seems to be most at ease with. She and her husband and producer Jim Akin use plenty of acoustic guitars for the album's sound base, particularly on "Season Of The Fair" and "My One True Love"; and the use of steel guitar is a bit more extensive than you'll find on most Nashville-produced albums these days. Maria, who is 40 years old now but still looks far younger than that, is in fine voice on all the tracks. Her cover of Neil Young's "Barstool Blues" is a minor gem too, as is the old-school "You Don't Know How Glad I Am", which, like her 1993 album track "Only Once", is redolent of Patsy Cline and late 60s/early 70s-era Linda Ronstadt in its country-pop styling.

Twenty years after she first burst upon the scene with Lone Justice, Maria is still underappreciated by the general public. Whether PEDDLIN' DREAMS changes that now is uncertain. But discriminating music fans would do well to get this recording just for the sheer pleasure of listening to one of the finest female singers to have come down the pike since Linda and Emmylou. Simply put, Maria is an artist always well worth supporting.

Not only is this album Maria McKee's best solo album -- the one fans have been waiting for -- it's a great record. Wonderful, tuneful songs that linger with you. The production does not overwhelm her wonderful voice -- it takes a back seat. This is truly one of the best CDs of the year.

A killer set of tunes in her best album so far, mellow and tender in a country kind of way with the occasional blast of neil young like guitar.
Just gets beter and better with every play.

I second all of what was said in the previous review... I too have no idea why Maria has not gotten the recognition (I think) she truly deserves. She is an excellent songwriter, a gorgeous girl with a richly strong and beautiful voice! And... she seems to have stayed true to herself and her integrity! Buy this album - you'll play it over and over... she's definitely NOT a one-hit wonder.
Gypsy - www.fairyprincessmusic.com

Maria McKee's new LP _Peddlin' Dreams_ provides a little something for each of the twenty years worth of fans/listeners. It plays to those who either dig McKee's optimism and/or her darker more suicidal side. The LP has a more acoustic and spontaneous feel--unlike _High Dive_ (which is one of McKee's great masterpieces). _Peddlin' Dreams_ is definitely worth buying if you are a McKee fan or for those who want to hear one of the alt-country greats.

After hearing her wonderful contributions to the cajun tribute album "Evangeline Made", I thought I would give her a try and purchased this CD. These songs are simply gorgeous!

I feel in love with Maria's voice during the Lone Justice years and have followed her ever since. I only wish that some day I would have a chance to see her live.

What dissapoints me about this disk is the somber mood in most of the tracks. She could lighten up a bit because her voice brings such a smile to my face it hurts to taint that feeling in this manner.

I would like her to get back to the "You Gotta Sin to Get Saved.." approach to her music.

Definately one of Marias finer albums. She has always amazed me through the years, even through some fairly mediocre releases. This one though shows her in top form vocally and musically. Great arrangements, although a few a little to country for my taste. But hey, that is part of who Maria is.