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In a different world, Kelly Willis would be a huge country star. Blessed with an emotional, pure voice, songwriting talent and good looks, she's the whole package and then some. But she didn't quite fit in with the Nashville scene, so she's based in Texas, where she's been dubbed "The Voice of Austin." Her previous albums only hinted at the full scope of Willis' artistic vision, but her fourth full-length release WHAT I DESERVE is the first one on which it truly shines through.
Willis wrote or co-wrote half the tracks on the album, but she's also chosen material by her husband Bruce Robison, Nick Drake, Paul Kelly and even the Replacements' Paul Westerberg. It's her unmistakable voice which ties it all together, whether she's crooning her way through the dreamy "Not Long for This World" and "Time Has Told Me," getting bluesy on "Got A Feelin' For Ya" or tackling upbeat numbers like "Take Me Down." Highlights include the title track and great versions of Westerberg's "They're Blind" and Robison's "Wrapped." Listeners who find mainstream country music too slick and obvious will enjoy Willis' down-to-earth, highly personal take on the genre.
Recorded at The Hit Shack, Cedar Creek Studios and Congress House Studio, Austin, Texas; Brilliant Studios, San Francisco, California.
Engineers: Dave McNair, Norman Kerner, Daniel Presley.
Personnel: Kelly Willis (gut-string guitar); Chuck Prophet, Mark Spencer (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Jon Dee Graham (electric guitar, lap steel guitar); Max Butler (electric guitar); John Ludwick, Bruce Robison, Charlie Robison (gut-string guitar); Michael Ramos (Farfisa); Larry Aberman, Rafael Gayol (drums); Dave McNair (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Dave McNair.
Recording information: Cedar Creek Studios; Congress House Studio, Austin, TX; Hit Shack.
Photographer: Michael Gomez .
Personnel: Kelly Willis (vocals); Chuck Prophet (acoustic & electric guitars, background vocals); Mark Spencer (acoustic & electric guitars); John Dee Graham (electric & electric lap steel guitars); Max Butler (electric guitar); Lloyd Maines (pedal steel guitar); Amy Noelle Farris (mandolin, violin, background vocals); Michael Ramos (piano, Hammond B-3 & Farfisa organs); John Ludwick (bass, background vocals); Michael Been (bass); Larry Aberman, Rafael Gayol (drums); Dave McNair (percussion); Bruce Robison, Charlie Robison (background vocals).
Producers: Dave McNair, Norman Kerner, Daniel Presley.
Rolling Stone (3/18/99, p.63) - 3 1/2 Stars (out of 5) - "...just listen to the nuances - the slurred notes, the yodels and cracks in the voice...a classically finessed country vocal..." Spin (4/99, pp.160-161) - 8 (out of 10) - "...it sounds like it'll be a cold day in TNN hell before she lets anyone devalue her gifts again..." Entertainment Weekly (2/19-2/26/99, p.141) - "...Willis...artfully meld[s] the strum und twang of her country upbringing with the plaintive grit of roots rock--and throwing in, for good measure, cuts by Paul Westerberg and Nick Drake." - Rating: A CMJ (3/15/99, p.22) - "...WHAT I DESERVE is as sharp and as affectionate as anything in her bag....the lady can croon like she's the last one standing after a bender at a boozy road house..." Dirty Linen (6-7/99, p.82) - "...this might finally be the release that brings Willis the attention she rightly deserves." Mojo (Publisher) (3/99, p.99) - "...Anyone lately taken with Lucinda Williams would be well advised to check this out."
What I deserve Great CD! She is a one-of-a kind, a classic.
Submitted by natespending (Phoenix, Arizona) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
The whole package indeed How she did not become the biggest thing in country one will never know....she doesn't quite fit the cookie cutter image, ok.....big deal, she is a MONSTER talent... but this album, you will not be sorry.... Submitted by james_mauser (Nantucket, MA usa) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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