Search - Irene Kelley :: Simple Path

Too Good for Radio

John Thornton | Kent, Ohio United States | 03/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the real deal! I suspect that the sound of this CD is a little too tinged with Bluegrass to make it big on country radio. That is too bad. Buy it and experience something others may miss!!Irene Kelley is a co-writer on all of the songs, and you can tell they come from her soul not just her diaphram. The sound is clean and simple. It brings to my mind simple crystal wine glasss.I have owned it about a week and I can't stop playing it."

Terrific Album!

Katherine R. | San Francisco, CA United States | 04/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is traditional, but at the same time very original. Good writing, well-played. A fresh sound. Her voice reminds me a bit of Kelly Willis. The first song, "A Little Bluer Than That" is a wonderful country heart-break song. "Tonight if you turn your radio on, you might hear a sad, sad song. About someone who lost everything they had. It may sound like me, but I'm a little bluer than that." Great bluegrass players on the CD: Claire Lynch, Viktor Krauss, and Aubrey Haynie among them. If you're a fan of real country music, you'll like this one."

A strong new voice on the country music scene

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 11/27/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Songwriter Irene Kelley struck gold when her song, "A Little Bluer Than That," was recorded by Top 40 hard-country hero Alan Jackson, on his album "Drive." That song, which opens this album as well, is a welcome throwback to the heartfelt simplicity of 'Fifties-style country heartsongs -- a good lyrical premise, a strong, simple, irresistible melody and nice, clean pickin' to back it up. She has some roots set down in the bluegrass scene as well; picker ssuch as Aubrie Haynie and Viktor Krauss pitch in, and there are also a couple of songs co-written with Claire Lynch, one of the best trad-grassers around. Kelley's voice and her musical choices bring to mind alt.country female icons such as Iris DeMent, Nanci Griffith and Kelly Willis, although I'd hazard to guess that Kelley sees herself working more in a commercial, Top 40 vein, more as a composer than as a headliner act. Other songs on this album are more self-consciously and ostentatiously crafted, more in line with the overdoing-things style that's all the rage in Nashville; the other standout track is "Pilgrim In The Rain," a bouncy, anthemic upbeat number co-written with Kim Richey. I wouldn't say that the whole album bowled me over the same way "Bluer Than That" does, but she's certainly a strong performer and a songsmith to be reckoned with... Keep your eyes on this gal!"