Obligatory Villagers [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

Nellie McKay

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 25, 2007)
• Original Release Date: September 25, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Vanguard Records
• ASIN: B000UDUN2W
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,069 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Nellie McKay returns with Obligatory Villagers, a 9-song odyssey and follow-up to Pretty little head, one of the best-reviewed records of 2006. Like its predecessor, Villagers produced, arranged, written and performed by Nellie, this time featuring an ensemble of jazz greats, including Phil Woods, Dave Liebman and Bob Dorough. An early review from Pitchfork testifies, from the cheeky ukulele-and-tap-shoes dance break! in the middle of album opener Mother of Pearl to the chorus of brain-hungry zombies on a finale titled, yes, Zombie , Villagers finds Nellie and her collaborators at their most lively and rambunctious.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Musical Suite for the Ages, November 27, 2007

By	Anne R. Eason "J Eason" (Deep Gap, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What a short and sweet album! I think to truly appreciate it you have to think of it as two songs--Mother of Pearl and Zombie--which serve as bookends for one of the most thrilling suites of musical inventiveness since, well, I'm not sure when. Comparisons to Bohemian Rhapsody don't do Nellie justice.
The suite kicks off with McKay's shout out to newsworthy dog owner Maxine Shreck and ends with the gospel rave up Testify. In between the listener is treated to everything from sea chanties (Livin) to Latin ballads (Politan) to hip-hop pop (Identity Theft). Just in the space of one song (Testify) she goes from Mancini-style spy music to anthemic rap to SNL-horn ensemble jazz to raise-the-roof soul.
The album is incredibly well-served by McKay's choice of backing musicians, including Bob Dorough whose scratchy vocals provide a perfect counterpoint to young Ms. Nellie on Oversure and Galleon.
Give this album a couple of spins and the nifty arrangements and hook-laden melodies will stick in your head for weeks. Lyrically, McKay manages to take episodes from her own life and turn them into poetic vignettes. Like Steely Dan lyrics, they are vague enough to keep you guessing yet include enough concrete imagery to point you in the right direction.
One of the best albums of 2007!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Amazing Nellie McKay, September 29, 2007

By	Randall McSorley (Kaukauna, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Nellie McKay's tunes continue to amaze, impress and delight. After the first listening, I was struck with the musicianship and quality of the arrangements, although I was left feeling that the album may be a touch over-polished. Then, after subsequent listening sessions, I realized that the polish was intentional, necessary and glorious.

Just as the Beatles crafted songs that were complete in and of themselves, at the same time weaving perfectly in an overall album concept, so does Nellie McKay's third album. Each song perfect and complete in its own chapter of the album.

Identity Theft, Mother of Pearl and Testify are the shining stars of this bright collection, although each and every of the nine songs is a complete, living, breathing success.

Obligatory Villagers is a happy addition to Nellie McKay's catalog. Highly recommended!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really Nice, January 11, 2008

By	Daniel Holland (Arroyo Grande, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really like this one. I complained a bit about "Pretty Little Head" because it was too much and needed paring. This is short and sweet and it works for me. I love the songs, the orchestration and the players. Nice fat trumpet sound, great sax solos, and a rough and tumble feel that's endearing to me. More than just about any album I've listened to lately, I find myself replaying the songs in my head and liking it. "Testify" is truely awesome and I can't help but love "Zombie."

I also love her singing and the contrast between her and guest singer Bob Dorough - very cool. I gotta say, you don't hear stuff like this anywhere else (or I haven't)..