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MP3 Kathy Hussey - Stranger Than Fiction
dogs, alcoholics behind the wheel...a consortium of interesting real-life
characters populates smartly-crafted folk-pop songs lurking under a dark
sheen of mysterious grooviness.
10 MP3 Songs
FOLK: like Ani, FOLK: Modern Folk
Details:
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WINNER 2003 Kerrville New Folk Competition
WINNER 2003 Mountain Stage Newsongs Contest (Top 5)
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Reckless drunks, redemption-seeking drag queens, horny good girls, stray dogs, even the rare well-adjusted lover...all are characters populating Stranger Than Fiction, the latest from Nashville-based singer/songwriter Kathy Hussey. Those unfamiliar with the charms of this fresh folk/pop voice will know her well and likely find her quite enchanting after spending some time with the new disc.
A concept album of sorts (all tunes were inspired by actual people and/or events), Fiction takes some bold steps forward from the strong starting point of her debut, the promising yet milder If Wishes Were Horses. The first set''s arrangements centered around Hussey''s capable acoustic guitar skills, and worked to spotlight skillfully-phrased yet straightforward lyrics. This time, deeper subject matter and a more complex lyrical style dictate the addition of subtle rock elements and an ever-present, almost undetectable dark sheen which unifies the set. The new sound works, and now when the toys are put away in favor of simple arrangements ("Man''s Best Friend," "Some Will Never Know") the quiet beauty of what''s left is striking.
Highlights here are plentiful. Outstanding storytelling anchors "Stop That Train," a tale which draws a comparison both figurative and literal between the hazards of addiction and an oncoming train. The lighthearted, love-crossing-the-Mason-Dixon-line adventure "Cherry Gingles" comes complete with swirling and irresistible harmonies. The sparse and sexy "Ice Cream Baby" casts Ms. Hussey as a small-voiced good girl barely able to control her desires to climb into a tasty, creamy tryst. The pop side of this folk/pop artist steps forward for the gorgeous, hook-heavy ballad "Just Like a Dream," one of the few tunes on Stranger Than Fiction that puts all of its can''t-stop-playing-them cards on the table upon one listen.
All of these tales are communicated by a voice that is infinitely pleasant and bears an important similarity to the twists and turns of the artist''s songs; every once in a while, when one least expects it, something new and engaging presents itself. It''s obvious that the storyteller is intimately acquainted with her subjects, and we hear subtle changes in tone as the point of view changes. One voice tells us the story of "Samantha" (who''s story is best left as a delightful surprise for the listener), while another comes from the perspective of an ever-faithful abandoned dog in "Man''s Best Friend," and yet another communicates the artist''s own personal history. And like these songs, the voice grows more interesting and gains more character with repeated listenings.
Fans of Shawn Colvin, Jonatha Brooke...even Sarah McLachlan and Dido... should clear a space next to their old Joni Mitchell records and fill it with Kathy Hussey''s Stranger Than Fiction, a smart and affecting gem of true-to-life music and pictures.
--Dan Schaefer, Alliance Entertainment
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