Customer Reviews

Under the Table & Above the Sun

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're a fan of Steve Earle you shouldn't overlook this album. Reckless Kelly have adopted the Earle style and the singer even sounds very much like the old country rebel. In the booklet, Robert Earl Keen writes an introduction in which he really praise Reckless Kelly and I'm bound to agree. The album starts with two very catchy and melodic alternative country tunes with a fair amount of rock. The rest of the material is a mixture of faster and slower songs with hooks and melody in common. The country music style is always present but it doesn't sound as slick as modern acts like Shania Twain or as old as the Nashville tradition. I believe Reckless Kelly is the perfect bridge between the old and the new sound. If you like Steve Earle, Joe Ely, Robert Earl Keen among others, I can almost guarantee that you'll also find this album enjoyable. Dedicated fans of Jayhawks, Scott Miller, Whiskeytown and Ryan Adams might also like this attractive effort from Reckless Kelly.

Oh! This is the RK I initially fell for. The sound is "Millican" all grown up - intimate, musically complex without being overblown. An extraordinary palette of sound, it will likely surpass "Millican" as my favorite. The band is tight and quite comfortable with each other. David Abeyta has melded his unique style of playing to RK's so completely, that while it's easy to pick him out, it's just as easy not to. The keyboards are a wonderfully subtle addition, and just as welcome as the variety of other instruments new to RK. Willy's song writing is intimate, especially "Desolation Angels," and first rate, and it is apparent the band had an abundance of material to choose from. The songs are diverse, with a little something for everyone. As usual, the Braun brothers' harmonies are superbly lofty (see "Desolation Angels" again). And ain't nobody got nothing on Cody Braun as a fiddle player. This is an album made by some serious musicians - it will remind you why you started listening to Reckless Kelly.

I began listening to Reckless Kelly in 1998. I thought their first album "Millican" was excellent and had trouble taking it out of my CD player. Aside from the Mermaid Avenue discs, I thought it was one of the better alt-country CDs of the late 1990s. After numerous times listening to their sophomore effort "The Day" I begrudgingly admitted to myself that I enjoyed it even more. "Under the Table" raised the bar even more. Although they have always seemed talented beyond their years, the level of musicianship and songwriting took a noticable leap with this disc. They seem to have matured (no signs of anything like Crazy Eddie's Last Hurrah and Time Bomb, great songs though they are) and yet they still seem to not be taking themselves too seriously. They are the true embodiment of alt-country, good twangy guitars and fiddles with undercurrents of roots, blues and rock. If you liked Uncle Tupelo or any of the various offshoots or have an appreciation of true country/roots rock you will really enjoy this album. And if you get a chance to see them live, do not pass it up under any circumstances. Aside from an excess of cover songs in the last half of the set it is one of the better live shows out there.

Wow. I've been an RK fan for a while now, but I actually picked up their most recent album "Wicked Twisted Road" before this one. I liked it so well that I had to check this one out. The only problem is trying to decide which one to listen to- they're both that good. If you're into this kind of music at all (americana, alt-country, roots-rock) you'll no doubt soon be calling this your favorite band. Even if you're not into those genres, you owe it to yourself to check this one out. Every song's a winner, but if I had to choose favorites I'd go with "Vancouver" and "Desolation Angels". Pick this one up.

This is one of the best albums of the new millenium. Some songs are simple and straightforward like "You Don't Want Me Around", "Nobody's Girl" & "May Peace Find You Tonight" and others tell stories of life on the road like "Desolation Angels" & my favorite "Vancouver". The songwriting is top shelf. The music is mostly about the blending of guitars. They use a little of everything; acoustic, electric, mandolins, lap steel, etc. It reminds me a little of Los Lobos at their best when they use like 5 or 6 guitars on every song. The guitars never get in the way of the vocals however. This is a nice job of production by Ray Kennedy, one of the best in the biz.

It may be a little too country for some alt-country fans and not mainstream country enough for that crowd but for most folks, I think this should hit the sweet spot. A great record!

I first discovered Reckless Kelly soon after the release of "Millican", on a tip from a friend. I loved it; it was simple, fun, and just generally pleasing to the ears. I was disappointed in "The Day"; it just didn't suit me.

This album is AMAZING! I liked it from the opening note. It's very mature, with great harmonies and fantastic layering in the songs. Like the previous reviewer stated, "Desolation Angels" is a high point; it demonstrates everything that Reckless Kelly has to offer. The lyrics are introspective and personal, and yet not so much that I don't see (i.e., a mental image) what Willy Braun is saying, and that goes for a lot of the songs. There are some elements of Robert Earl Keen in here, which is always welcome, and just enough hard driving rock to keep rock fans interested.

All in all, a HIGHLY recommended album if you like Robert Earl Keen and the like.

This CD is in a word AMAZING, I must be on my 12th listen and I'm STILL getting goosebumps from Willie Braums lyrics and the fantastic guitar work of David Abeyta. This is the best of the 4 RK CD's to date. The RK sound we've all known and loved from "Millican" is BACK and better than ever. There is even bonus video of studio sessions and photos of the band. Muzie Braun keeps it all in the family with vocals on "I Saw It Coming" The CD Really takes off from there for me with some of my favorite tracks, "Vancouver", "Willamina" and "Mersey Beat"
Buy this CD, if you have it already, buy one for your friends and introduce them to a little something we like to call RECKLESS KELLY!!!!!!!!!!!

Under the Table & Above the Sun gets my vote for CD of the year (2003)! It is really that good. It's the kind of cd that once it finds it's way onto your player, you never want to take it off. You'll want to hear it over and over. The sound is uniquely real and alive, great writing, musicianship and production. Not a clinker in the bunch.
Highest recommendation and a request to radio program directors everywhere to give this a listen and some very well deserved airplay.

Great rock n roll. Very much worth a listen. From a family of musicians who mysteriously appeared in central Idaho. My favorite, Willie Braun. Excellent singing voice and really cooks on stage with a very tight band. If you can catch these guys "live" its worth your time.

This is such a great cd! It is worth every penny, and then some! These guys are awesome, extremely talented, and not to mention good looking! Reckless Kelly is an awesome live show.... GO if you have the chance, it will be the best live show you have EVER seen! You will not regret it!