Bed Of Roses

Christy McWilson

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 19, 2002)
• Original Release Date: March 19, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hightone Records
• ASIN: B0000630Y5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,913 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Jangle Pop

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
A moody, melancholy singer with a haunting voice, Christy McWilson won well-deserved plaudits for her 2000 debut, The Lucky One. Her follow-up, Bed of Roses, doesn't plow any new ground, but it's just as appealing, with soul-baring confessions set to surprisingly upbeat country-tinged pop played by producer Dave Alvin, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, the Young Fresh Fellows' Scott McCaughey (McWilson's husband), and others. McWilson used to sing with the Seattle alt-country band the Picketts, but as a solo artist, she has more in common with Sandy Denny than Patsy Cline. If you didn't already know that McWilson suffers from depression, it wouldn't take very long to figure out: the sad "Sheep Song," the bleak "Bed of Roses," and the wistful "Not a Day Goes By" all deal with the pain and suffering of madness. Even her choice of covers--Moby Grape's "8:05" and the Youngbloods' "Darkness, Darkness"--reveal McWilson's penchant for misery. Yet for all its doom and gloom, Bed of Roses is a singular pleasure. --David Hill

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a VERY pleasant surprise, January 7, 2003

By	"jbesanko" (Crofton, MD United States) - See all my reviews

I knew nothing about Ms. McWilson other than the fact that producer Dave Alvin would be joining her onstage the night I went to see her play at a local club...and what a great show it was! I immediately went out and purchased Bed Of Roses and liked the CD even better. McWilson has a wonderful voice--she reminds me a bit of Marti Jones--and the album kicks off with several excellent tunes in a row, especially "Serpentine River" and "Lila Jean"...The title track is excellent as well, and "Can't Stop A Train" may be my favorite song on the disc. Most of the cuts were written or co-written by McWilson, though "Darkness Darkness" is a Jesse Colin Young composition (which is just a little TOO dark for my taste)...Overall, an excellent slice of modern roots rock/alt.country--the kind of stuff you simply can't find on commercial radio any more. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Amazing Collection of Songs!, December 21, 2004

By	Matthew L. Cloner (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I first heard Christy McWilson sing "The Serpentine River" while I was driving my truck around the Seattle area one morning. The song was so amazing that I had to write it down and check out this singer on the web. I promised myself that someday I would buy this CD. Once I picked it up, I couldn't believe just how amazing it was. If Christy McWilson were a painter, her canvas would stretch a city block! Her songs are so strong and powerful that they seem to make the stories contained within them seem enormous in depth and scale. They empower their characters and the themes centered around them. The only question I'm left with is why isn't this talented woman a major recording artist? I've heard so much music over the years, but rarely have I ever listened to anything as amazing as the songs on this CD.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Blasters gal, February 28, 2008

By	Robert S. Estes "othrzone" (Santa Rosa, Ca) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Yes, it's true that Christy McWillliams sounds like she would/should be the female lead singer for the Blasters. She fits in with traditional country, new cowpunk, rock and roll and all inbetween. Christy won't ever be played on Country radio, Americana passed her by, and her hope now is word of mouth and great reviews.

This would be a good review.

Christy sounds sometimes like the early Capitol recordings by Linda Ronstadt. She has that same lilt and ache that Linda Ronstadt had when wondering and hoping .. perhaps hoping for another record.

Christy made fine choices for cover songs, Youngbloods "Darkness Darkness" and Moby Grapes's "8:05". Those songs stand out, but her own "Bed of Roses" could be/ have been a hit for a country girl singer of note.

This CD should be so much more popular if only radio would pay attention.