Richey rises to a new sound
By KATE WILLIAMS
Scene Music Critic
"To me, rise means a gentle lift, like smoke rising. When you get so wrapped up in what's going on in your own tiny little world and things start to spin, you have to lift up and look at what else is going on around you, get a different perspective and rise above it all," said Kim Richey on the High Road Touring Web site. And that is the message her new album, Rise, emphasizes in all its different aspects.
Richey started her career as a Nashville singer and songwriter, and has provided background vocals for artists from Ryan Adams to Mary Chapin-Carpenter to Reba McEntire. She has also had songs performed by many of country's most famous singers. Though strongly involved in the Nashville music scene her new album Rise exhibits a departure from her country roots.
Released though Lost Highway Records, a Universal Music Company, Rise contains 13 songs written and performed by Richey. Rise represents Richey's fourth album, and has been voted the Best Alternative Country Record of 2002 by Entertainment Weekly.
Richey's style is reminiscent of Joni Mitchell and Aimee Mann, yet her lyrics and phrasing set her apart from other performers. The album begins with "Girl in a Car" a soulful story of the aftermath of a failed love affair. Richey's voice shines on this track and provides an emotional start to the album. She continues with "A Place Called Home," in which Richey talks about her struggles finding her place in the world. "Me and You" is the first upbeat song on the album and comes just at the moment when it seems Rise is destined to be hopelessly gloomy. "The Circus Song (Can't Let Go)" is a quirky addition to the album, mixing deep lyrics with circus metaphors. Richey moves back to darker themes with "Fading," "Without You" and "Hard to Say Goodbye," though the "Cowards in a Brave New World" and " Good Day Here" provide a lively and welcome relief from some of the albums darker corners. The high point of the album comes with "Reel Me In," a sultry and exotic love song. Here Richey's subtle soprano stands out against a simple musical background to resemble the atmosphere of a smoky 1940's lounge. It shows Richey's versatility, vocal ability and underscores her departure from classical country.
Rise is at times a dark production that explores serious themes and poignant emotions, but Richey is more than a mopey singer of depressing songs. The lightness of her voice contrasts eloquently with her deep lyrics, and this album is an introspective examination of Richey's experience. The other more upbeat selections from Rise show her ability to successfully navigate many musical styles and lighten the burden of her darker works. Richey produced an album that is essentially easy to listen to, one that provides a quiet yet powerful mood.
Contact Kate Williams at kwilliam@nd.edu
All Scene Stories for Tuesday, February 11, 2003
