Search - Amy Ray :: Didn't It Feel Kinder

Amy Ray follows her Muse

J. Brady | PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC United States | 08/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fans of Amy Ray's solo albums know up front that she goes against the grain when recording on her own. The punk/riot grrrl sound of Stag and Prom, her previous solo offerings, is so far removed from the neo-folk and Americana of the Indigo Girls that it seems these disparate styles are coming from two completely different people. For Didn't It Feel Kinder, Ray again plays against expectations, but this time by largely turning away from the angry and brash do-it-yourself-isms of previous offerings, in favor of a much more tuneful and considered approach, not to mention a much broader sonic palette. Kinder succeeds and flies highest when Ray steps farthest outside the box and pushes herself beyond three cords and the truth. The opening track Birds of a Feather, is a real slow-burner. "Hey Brother," Ray sings, "it's hard to be touched, taught to hide and dress alone." I'd say what I think the lyrics meant, and I'd probably be wrong. But it is my favorite cut on the album. She's Got to Be, a gorgeous declaration of a very unordinary love, and an early highlight of the album, rides a laid back SoCal groove, reminding me musically of something Linda Rondstadt might have recorded in the early Seventies. The bump and grind of Bus Bus might shock longtime fans, but underneath the decidedly modern groove is classic Ray lyrical imagery - part stream of concious, part message from the road. Stand and Deliver, another of my favorites, features one of the best vocal performances I've heard from Amy. At first very tender, almost fragile, then turning fiery. This is passion, commitment and - dare I say it ? - soul. Who Sold the Gun is oil and water. The lyrics seem at odds with the music only because they're so smart - hook-filled, truly pop songs rarely have this kind of depth. And don't get me started on how much I love the reggae breakdown in the third quarter, and the last, acapella, line. The closing track Rabbit Foot takes us closer into Indigo Girls territory than anything else on the album, with its gentle acoustics and plaintive melody and lyric. It has an almost full-circle feel to it, and gives me great faith in her continuing growth as a musician and songwriter. It's as if knowing where her greatest strengths lie is what's allowing her to step outside her safety zone and deliver curve balls like Didn't It Feel Kinder. Very highly recommended.

*Digital versions of DIFK contain an alternate version of She's Got to Be, as well as Me and My Baby, a short, bare acoustic song that will be the highlight of the solo tour.

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Inner Beauty brought forth in song

R. Lyon | Thelma, KY United States | 08/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The newest in a line of amazing projects for Amy Ray, is absolutely touching and heartwarming. The entire feel of the album is like going over to Amy's home, sitting on her living room sofa and listening to her play just for you. I love the overtones of harmony and the topics ranging from a strong love, to gender politics. I would recommend this to anyone needing a pick me up or wanting to surround themselves in melodic lyrical enchantment. I can't wait to play it for them, then send them out to purchase it for themselves. Bravo Ms. Amy, once again, well done."

Pivotal Amy Ray album

J. Kipp | Chicago, IL | 12/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Crafting simple harmony, while unveiling her emotional soul, Amy Ray has always embraced broadening her musical horizon. In my opinion, "Didn't It Feel Kinder" is Amy's best album to date, and it's highly infectious. I guarantee that for many this album will slowly work its magic. In the first track, "Birds of a Feather", the sonorous lead guitars blend seamlessly with a hypnotic beat that draws the listener in, and in its simplicity forces us to focus on the lyrics. The second song, "She's Got to Be", deals with gender identity and self-acceptance - sung in a torch-song style that is definitely a stark departure from Amy's earlier strident work. "Bus Bus" pulsates with an infectious pop rhythm and percussive lyrics that play with alliteration, resonating with the ebb and flow of the subsonic bass. "Stand and Deliver" delivers a simple, gorgeous melody that builds to an uplifting finale. The lyrics work not only on a personal level as a heartfelt monologue to one's lover, but globally as well. How can a caring person embrace the inevitable emotional vulnerability in a hurtful world? How can we break through the defensive hostility that hides our fear and offer the most of ourselves to make this world a better place? The finale, "Rabbit's Foot", poetically affirms the album title, and is a natural sequel to "Stand and Deliver": "Didn't you feel kinder, when you were walking beside her? Didn't you feel stronger when you let love grow? Didn't it open you up inside? Hey let love abide." There is not a single piece in this album that hasn't gotten under my skin and into my soul. I recommend it very highly."