Customer Reviews

Ultimate Collection

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I think it's safe to say that Maria McKee has to rank as one of the most underappreciated (or least appreciated) female singers of the last three decades. Whether it has been as the lead singer of the 1980s alternative country-rock outfit Lone Justice or on her own, Maria has had one of the most flexible voices this side of Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. And yet despite her immense talents, radio and the music-buying public have ignored her. This compilation CD of Maria's best performances will leave you shaking your head as to why this is.

Maria shines really well while out front of Lone Justice on songs like Tom Petty's "Ways To Be Wicked" (with the notorious "stick it in" line), the country weeper "Don't Toss Us Away" (which Patty Loveless would later abscond with), and "Dixie Storms." On her own, the best tracks include "Only Once", a country tune that sounds like she's channeling early Linda Ronstadt and Patsy Cline, "If Love Is A Red Dress" (which would find its way into the soundtrack for PULP FICTION), and the up-tempo country-rocker "Am I The Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way)" (which the Dixie Chicks would cover on their 1998 breakthrough album WIDE OPEN SPACES).

Some of the blame for Maria's lack of success may have had to do with some of her own personal eccentricities. Beyond that, however, vocally she is certainly very close to the equal of Linda and Emmylou, and as such would blow many a female pop or country singer off the map. This CD comes strongly recommended.

Maria is one of the great singers of the past 20 years-- seriously. I'd rank her with Emmylou Harris and Toni Price and Chrissie Hynde in a heartbeat. Plus, she's an excellent songwriter and one of the all-time great live performers. How Geffen Records failed to get her the attention and success she deserved is beyond comprehension, as is the label's dumping of her. While she's working on an independent release in Ireland ... , this complilation will perhaps keep her rabid fans at bay (though likely debating track selections) and entice new listeners. It covers her early days with Lone Justice right through her solo work to 1995. It's got a marvelously annotated and photo-filled booklet with choice commentary from MM herself, and the music sounds great. However, 6 of the 17 songs are from the LJ days, which means that her finest album, LIFE IS SWEET, seems underrepresented with a mere 3 cuts. (Also a notable omission is her fabulous cover of Victoria Williams' "Sweet Relief" but hey you can seek out that all-star benefit album, right?) With the possible exception of Steve Earle or Sam Phillips, no one else explores as many styles with such daring and soul as Maria-- just line up the roots-rock of "Ways to Be Wicked" with the sonic maelstrom and vivid lyrics of "Absolutely Barking Stars" or the country ballad "Don't Toss Us Away" (written by her late brother and later covered by Patty Loveless) with the ferocious live cover of VU's "Sweet Jane" to feel the energy and eclectic spirit that dwells within her. A pivotal song from the PULP FICTION soundtrack, "If Love Is a Red Dress" should also get your immediate attention-- it's spine-chilling stuff, especially with the lights low. "Am I the Only One) Who's Ever Felt This Way)?", which was recently covered by McKee fans the Dixie Chicks, closes things out with gusto. This album retrospective will be a revelation to newcomers weened on soporific AOR noodlings. Burn your Paula Cole and Sarah McLachan cd's and pick up on the real deal, the Little Diva known as Maria McKee!

Did you just learn of Maria McKee and Lone Justice? Unsure what CD to buy first? Well, of course, get them all - but this one is sure a great start!

The fantastic "If Love is a Red Dress," was a stand-out on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack, and Maria McKee fans will love this song. The acoustic demo of Show Me Heaven is also a must-have for those looking to complete their CD collection.

The pacing of the CD is great - mournful to toe-tapping, all in the right order.

Add this one to your collection!

To tell you the truth, I'm a little baffled by the existence of this CD. A recent Lone Justice compilation covered a lot of the same territory, and it doesn't seem to be the right time in her career for Maria to be releasing a "best of." I hope this isn't some kind of last hurrah to the music industry; with her fabulous voice and great lyrics, Maria should persevere.

I'm also disappointed that her fabulous "You Gotta Sin to Get Saved" CD isn't better represented here. Still, you can't go wrong with what did make it onto this album--great Lone Justice songs like "Wheels" and "Dixie Storms" and some fabulous solo material like "Breathe" and "Only Once." The more obscure stuff doesn't disappoint, either. For the complete experience, you really need "This World Is Not My Home," "Maria McKee," and "You've Gotta Sin to Get Saved," but if you only want to buy one CD, this is as good a choice as any.

A superb collection. I agree with an earlier review that the cd "You Gotta Sin to Get Saved" should have been better represented. My copy of the cd differs on one of the tracks - the song "Only Once" replaced by "Grateful". I would have preferred the former song - oh well.

Maria McKee, velvet voiced diva. A collection that touches mainly upon her later work with Lone Justice as well as solo. Taken in context with the Lone Justice compilation, this is must have.

As for the Lone Justice stuff, it's all superb; from the zenlike "Ways to Be Wicked" to the get up and go from "Sweet, Sweet Baby" to the silky "Shelter" and "Don't Toss Us Away".

Her solo stuff is great. I can't think of a more perfect 2+ minutes of sound that is "Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt this Way)?". A song that sounds infinitely better than the Dixie Chicks cover version. Wonderful too are the bluesy "Only Once", "Absolutely Barking Stars" and "If Love is a Red Dress".

A gorgeous collection from a talented woman.

Maria McKee is a once-in-a-generation talent. Her voice defies all labels and poorly-thought up categories. Although she is sometimes misguided in presentation, she always brings her heart and soul to every work. She is a force-of-nature, and I am continually fascinated by her!

I admit to being primarily a fan of the Lone Justice phase of Maria McKee's career, and the tracks from that band are poorly chosen here. Great songs like "East of Eden" and "I Found Love" aren't present, and songs that were uninteresting ("Sweet Sweet Baby") or boring curiosities ("Sweet Jane") are included. Songs not found on her solo albums like "Red Dress" are must-haves for a serious fan, but with so much focus on Lone Justice, I think it would be better to have the "This World Is Not My Home" Lone Justice compilation. And to either wait for a compilation containing more of her solo material or to buy the CD's themselves...

Robert Christgau once wrote that Steve Winwood is what happens when one has more talent than brains. Listening to this CD evokes a similar response.

Maria McKee possesses undeniable talent and beauty. If she had been born 50 years earlier, some studio or Svengali producer would have surely harnessed that talent and beauty and made her a star. However, it appears that her career has been left to her own devices yielding this highly uneven collection and less than household name recognition.

The amber warning light goes off when one realizes that some of the strongest material a) was written by others, and b) is off the first Lone Justice album, before that band first splintered then collapsed. Although McKee has put out some good solo material, it is much more hit and miss. The collection reaches its nadir with a pointless live cover of "Sweet Jane."