Customer Reviews

Pretty Little Head

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

McKay's sophomore album was famously stopped from release by Columbia Records, who apparently demanded that it be released as a single disc rather than as the double-disc album the artist wanted. Who knows why -- I'm going to speculate that they just didn't want to pony up the meager cost to produce a double album. It's a strange decision, and totally the wrong one -- if you're releasing an album by someone whose individualism is a MAJOR part of their appeal, then you'd have to be nuts to try and step on them.

Luckily, McKay owned the rights to the recordings and was able to self-release the album. In case you're wondering, it's not a letdown. Maybe a leetle self-indulgent here and there, but so what? All art is self-indulgent, and this pretty much all works.

My personal favorites from the album are "Cupcake," the lovely "Long & Lazy River," "We Had It Right" (a duet with k.d. lang), and "Columbia Is Bleeding," but that's just me. As with her first album, McKay tries out a LOT of different styles, ranging here from hip-hop to ballad to pop to yodel, and whereas most musicians would have a hard time roping all those disparate elements into one corral, McKay manages to make it all seem of a piece. It's kind of astonishing, and will seem more and more so with each time you listen to the CD. Sorry, make that "CDs."

Another exceptional effort from an exceptional talent. Buy two and give one to someone you know would never buy it for themselves.

This didn't make the Village Voice's list of the top 30 albums of the year? There's more wit and inventiveness on these discs than can be found in the entire careers of others. Any pop fan can feast on these hooks for months. It sounds like Stephen Sondheim joined an East Village girl group. This woman is a genius.

I'm really digging Nellie McKay these days and tonight this album is my favorite. K.D. Lang and Cindi Lauper had been off my radar but their collaborations here are real treats.

The first disc is overall the more sober, less spirited of the two but I really enjoyed "The Big One." "Pink Chandelier" is a woozy delight. And of course "Bee Charmer," with Cindi Lauper stirred me up. Cindi Lauper has always been a guilty pleasure for me. "Girls Just Want to have Fun" coincided with the hormonal zenith of my adolescence. Madonna came on strong, Cindi started wrestling, Cindi got an ulcer, and then began the slow fade. But I never forgot her.

The second disc is very solid. "Pounce" clocks in under a minute but is all hook, it'll become tightly entrenched in your retroperitoneal space before the second yowl. I had a very aversive reaction to the creepy baby-talk histrionics in "Mama and Me" but it is has a peculiar elegance. "Columbia is Bleeding" is potent. And "Lali Est Paresseux" is a carefree treat, although I don't know what the lyrics mean, so I'm hoping it isn't some awful tear-jerker.

Thank you for listening, nighty-night.

Buy this album if you are searching for something fun, something quirky, or something you've never heard before! I popped in the album for the first time on a long car ride, and I was completely captivated at first listen. If you are sick of albums that you have to listen to 6 times before you even like or remember the songs, then this one's for you. Nellie's voice isn't beautiful in the Norah Jones way (thank goodness), but it's very rich and very real. Her lyrics are sometimes just fun-silly, often poignant and biting. This album will appeal to all types of listeners...as long as you have a little mischief in you.

Nellie's back, and she's pulling no punches. Some will say that "Pretty Little Head" is a lot like "Get Away From Me". I actually agree, but I don't think that's a problem.

Every song by Nellie has a unique feel to it. There is tremendous diversity from song to song.

The tunes are great. But, get beyond that and listen to the words. That's where the action is.

All I ask from Nellie is to give us more of the same on her third release. And, don't make us wait so long!

If you like Nelly's fisrt CD because of how origional the lyrics were, you might be disappointed with this CD. Its more mature and less satirical than the first. Still worth the purchase and listen.

I love Nellie MacKay. Clear and simple, you must check her out! She really is wonderful and I LOVE her politics!
Here's the but part.
Buy her first album which is the best for that year and really deserves all the praise that one can give. It ranges from hip hop to jazz and over to a country type of thing that just is terrific. Listen to that CD from the begining to end and enjoy.
Her second CD for me was a disappointment. Many of the songs just didn't seem to be realized enough and I thought the production was just wrong for some of the songs. There was one song on the second CD that I just flat out hated. It's the one where she is crying about her mother... sorry, it was too much for me. I couldn't listen a second time and cut it out of a dupe I was making for the car.
I've just heard some cuts from the new CD on Fresh Air and they sound great. I'm very tempted to buy the new CD and you should too. Support this artist in any way you can because she has immense promise and at least half the time delivers. Go Nellie!!! May you make musice for as long as you like!

Loved the 1st release. Bought it after hearing her performance at the Bethel Perfoming Arts Center in NY during the jazz weekend in Aug '06. Some of my favorite songs with lots of intelligent sarcasm and truisms. I listened to the 2nd release and was totally bummed. Poorly produced (stick with the elders, their mass appeal talent is why they stay in business), no bite (but lots of screaming), and generally dull. Not sure what Lauper and Lang contribute since the combination of 3 voices with unique styles is grating. Hope she considers a 3rd release and gets some help in performing and producing it.

As you listen to the 2CD gem, it literally sounds like there are five different lead vocalists. McCay's dynamic and eclectic vocals can master jazz, Broadway, folk, pop, torch and some otherwordly genres. She is such a prodigy some of the tunes can sound out of an opera while others can be songs for children. It is appropos that the versatile KD Lang is featured on the CD. Nellie McCay grows on you with each listen. She can sing like an angel releasing her demons. The reality is Nellie McCay is boundlessly talented and has the potential to be one of the greatest vocalists in American history. The compassionate vegan and animal welfare advocate is an emanation from Heaven. Only an omnipotent God could create such a phenom. She is eccentric and terrific !

It was a surprise to have discovered Nellie McKay's David via Last.FM when asking for similar s to Jill Tracy. I've ordered the three albums available in Amazon.com and I'm planning to get some tracks available on iTunes.
My favorite still is "Get away from me" tough. If you are readinf this ;-), I would definitely recommend that you try it. last.fm, her myspace page or one of the sites nelliemckay.{com,net,org} which have tracks available. There's also some videos available on youtube.