Wayward Angel

Artist: Kasey Chambers
Label: EMI Int'l
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 724357139823
EAN: 0724357139823
ASIN: B00023XWJ6

Release Date: 2004-07-27

Wayward Angel

Related Categories:

Alt-Country & Americana

| Country | Styles | Music

Outlaw & Progressive Country

| Country | Styles | Music

Australia & New Zealand

| International | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters

| Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

| Pop | Styles | Music

General

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Country Rock

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Country Folk

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Tracks:

Pony
Hollywood
Stronger
Bluebird
More Than Ordinary
Wayward Angel
Paper Aeroplane
Like A River
For Sale
Follow You Home
Mother
Guilty As Sin
Lost And Found
Saturated

Customer Reviews:

"Wayward Angel" Soars to New Heights of Pleasure.......2004-11-05

Prime Cuts: Pony, Bluebird, Like a River

Former lead singer of Australian country band Dead Ringer Band, singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers returns with her third solo album, "Wayward Angel." Once again, this Aussie native serves notice by her insightful lyrics and her keening vocals, often compared to a more angst Emmylou Harris with a trace of Iris Dement's nasal tinge. Like all her solo albums, "Wayward Angel" defies any genre categorization: there's a dose of country-pop, a splash of folk, a pinch of rock and definitely a noticeable slice of bluegrass. Nevertheless, regardless of styles, Chambers has an affecting élan and she is never one to be emotionally peripatetic. Rather, you can hear and feel her heart as she sings with her seasoned nuance through these sylvan tunes.

The album opener, "Pony," an understated pop ballad, finds Chambers putting her best foot forward. Unlike her previous self-depreciative hit "Not Pretty Enough," "Pony" finds a femme fatale making her seductive come-ons performed with a confident and enthralling undertone. "Like a River," the first Australian single, is an effervescent country-pop number with a love struck Chambers basking in the euphoria of love. With an infectious melody and Chambers' fervent performance, "Like a River" stands toe-to-toe with any major country product from Music Row. Clamorous for authenticity, sophomore single "Hollywood," a popish mid tempo number, is a desperate and vulnerable plea; you can almost Chambers' heart breaking as she sings, "This ain't Hollywood this is my heart." While traditionalists may feel querulous, "Guilty as Sin" finds a zesty Chambers kicking up her heels on her most rock number to date bolstered by some delightful sounding jaunty guitars.

On the more rustic end, Chambers veers perilously close to Emmylou Harris territory with the heart wrenching "Bluebird." This plaintive country ballad tells the story of an unsavory Chambers questioning the reliability of her paramour's devotion. While the more philosophical "Lost and Found" may not be the best ballad Chambers has had written, but it's performed with verve. Taking a stab at bluegrass, "Follow You Home," boasts some delightful mandolin and banjo solos, resulting in a Rhonda-Vincent-reminiscent piece.

Overall, "Wayward Angel" though marketed as a country album, does not suffer from the Nashville radio gloss. Maybe part of the reason resides in Chambers' insistence that brother, Nash Chambers handles the production. With Nash's deftly touches and Kasey's firm deploy from Nashville's stringent style, "Wayward Angel" truly is an effort that soars well above the escarpments of country music's insipidness.

Another winning effort........2004-09-11

Kasey continues to put out fantastic original music that really speaks to me. The only problem is her singing voice, which seems to get more shrill and nasal with each passing year, please bring back the Kasey from Dead Ringer Band. Still the top CD released this year IMO.

Better than Barricades and Brickwalls?.......2004-09-03

I don't know if I like this album better than Barricades and Brickwalls or not, but I do know they are my two favorite albums of the last 5 years. Kasey is a brilliant songwriter and singer who touches me in way almost no one else has. How such a young girl can write songs that reasonate so strongly with a 60 year old is astonishing. Paper Aeroplane and the Nullabor Song are as emotionally powerful songs as I have ever experienced.

Agree with all the 5 stars.......2004-08-27

Agree with all the 5 stars - I only just recently gotten into KC via the collab with other Pop/C&W artists on the Dolly tribute album and have been a LRimes fan for over 2yrs now. I Quite like this album and I will have to go out and buy it after borrowing a friends. Critical I am of cover versions I disliked KC for the cover of true colours (CLauper) for the ARL, though I am warming to her melancholy tones and uplifting lyrics.

Don't wait for the US release, get this now........2004-08-05

Kasey has a very unique voice and this disc shows that it has matured some since Barricades and Brick Walls. Her songwriting is as strong as ever. There a several great ballads: More Than Ordinary, Mother, Lost and Found, plus others that really showcase her writing and voice.

If I could, I would knock 1/2 star off because a couple of the tunes lean a bit to the pop side for my tastes (Hollywood, Guilty as Sin). But, that been said her "pop" is better than anything you'll hear on American pop radio these days.

If you don't want to drop $35 or wait for the September US release, you can grab one from Australia on Ebay. It'll take about three weeks to get the the states though.

Music Album:

Music Album

Music Album

Music CD

Libra/Another Earth ~ Gary Bartz

News From the Street ~ Jerry Granelli

Blues One ~ Chris Anderson

Groovin' Vibes ~ Lionel Hampton

Jazz Is Back in Grand Rapids ~ Louis Armstrong & His All Stars

En Concert ~ Mylene Farmer

Toute La Ville En Parle ~ Eddy Mitchell

Musical Journey Through East Asia ~ Various Artists

Jade ~ Shinji Tanimura

Experience ~ Canabis