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Amazon.co.uk Review
Even in the early days of her solo career, Maria McKee had a penchant for penning dramatic melodies that seemed more conducive to Broadway than to contemporary radio. In fact, the former Lone Justice frontwoman makes reference to criticisms of that theatrical style in between songs on her Live Acoustic Tour CD. Pandering to no one, McKee continues to distance herself from her country roots on her sixth studio release, Late December, writing what might be best described as 'pop-ras,' miniature contemporary pseudo-operas sung in open-throated vibrato. "Destine" is a prime example, echoing Queen's A Night at the Opera with it's dramatic vocals and grandiose guitar solo. "Scene of the Affair" evokes a similar sensibility, as McKee mournfully sings "Four walls and a bed/best to let the dead rest with the dead." Those who prefer the old Maria will find a handful of songs to satiate their thirsty musical pallet. "My First Night Without You" has a soul/country cross that allows McKee to vocally shine; other notable moments include the gospel-infused ending to the title track and the infectious '60s Motown styling of "No Other Way to Love You." The one song that will likely please fans of both musical camps is McKee's inclusion of "A Good Heart," a track that she wrote at 18 years of age which became a worldwide hit for an Irish artist named Feargal Sharkey. --Denise Sheppard
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Maria returns to the pomposity of High Dive, but, like all her recent albums, this defies simple classification. The opening title track reeks gloriuosly of sultry, disappointed blues; it's like no other song I remember her doing, yet (typically for MM!) the rest of the album is nothing like it.
Late December ranges between and a stripped down 'A Good Heart' (a UK number 1 for Feargal Sharkey), the Queen-like 'Destine', and the gentle, nursery-rhyme like 'Power On Little Star', which, on a personal note, reminds me of my cousin, who died in a motorbike accident a week after the album came out.
Such contrasts show off her amazing vocal style, which rivals the breadth of her songwriting capabilities. It's the extremes of her singing that truly captivate, and anyone interested in altrock women should have at least one of her albums in their collection. 2003's High Dive remains my favorite, but this returns to its styles and nearly lives up to it. The Amazon price is well worth it.
Late December ranges between and a stripped down 'A Good Heart' (a UK number 1 for Feargal Sharkey), the Queen-like 'Destine', and the gentle, nursery-rhyme like 'Power On Little Star', which, on a personal note, reminds me of my cousin, who died in a motorbike accident a week after the album came out.
Such contrasts show off her amazing vocal style, which rivals the breadth of her songwriting capabilities. It's the extremes of her singing that truly captivate, and anyone interested in altrock women should have at least one of her albums in their collection. 2003's High Dive remains my favorite, but this returns to its styles and nearly lives up to it. The Amazon price is well worth it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
No-one could accuse Maria McKee of standing still creatively. Never one to be happy repeating herself, on Late December she adopts grandiose production a world away from her previous album. Her voice has aged gracefully over the years, but is none the worse for it and she still makes the most of various opportunities to let rip. When she does, she can still show the divas how it's done.
Her version of A Good Heart - when is a cover version not a cover version? - is refreshingly different to Feargal Sharkey's 1985 chart-topper. Where he had the typically glossy production of the mid-80s, Maria uses a full-blooded approach more in line with Springsteen in his more bombastic moments. Power On, Little Star starts as an acoustic guitar strumming ballad before morphing halfway through into a hum-along crowd-pleaser. Never afraid to mix and match genres, McKee follows the Bo Diddley-referencing Too Many Heroes with Destine, which begins as a potential stage musical number before moving into pomp-rock territory. The Queen comparison above is pretty accurate...the guitar playing even sounds unnervingly like Brian May. Scene Of The Affair is best described as, erm, camp punk. Try to imagine, if you can, Broken English-era Marianne Faithfull duetting with Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex, you'll get the idea. Uplifting power ballad Starving Pretty provides an upbeat end to the album, its repeated "we're gonna win" refrain at once both optimistic and defiant.
Themes recurring throughout the album include meaty guitars and drums, moments of high drama - both vocal and theatrical, brief spoken lyrics, plenty of vocal overdubs, and a refreshing no-holds barred approach to the whole project. The second half of the album in particular (from Destine onwards) includes several little "four seasons in one song" pocket symphonies. This isn't your run of the mill verse-chorus-verse-chorus-repeat to fade stuff.
In terms of surprising those who may have only heard her previous album, Late December is not quite the cricket bat to the face that Life Is Sweet was after You Gotta Sin..., but is reassuring proof that Maria McKee is still an artist looking to keep her fans - and herself - on their toes.
Her version of A Good Heart - when is a cover version not a cover version? - is refreshingly different to Feargal Sharkey's 1985 chart-topper. Where he had the typically glossy production of the mid-80s, Maria uses a full-blooded approach more in line with Springsteen in his more bombastic moments. Power On, Little Star starts as an acoustic guitar strumming ballad before morphing halfway through into a hum-along crowd-pleaser. Never afraid to mix and match genres, McKee follows the Bo Diddley-referencing Too Many Heroes with Destine, which begins as a potential stage musical number before moving into pomp-rock territory. The Queen comparison above is pretty accurate...the guitar playing even sounds unnervingly like Brian May. Scene Of The Affair is best described as, erm, camp punk. Try to imagine, if you can, Broken English-era Marianne Faithfull duetting with Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex, you'll get the idea. Uplifting power ballad Starving Pretty provides an upbeat end to the album, its repeated "we're gonna win" refrain at once both optimistic and defiant.
Themes recurring throughout the album include meaty guitars and drums, moments of high drama - both vocal and theatrical, brief spoken lyrics, plenty of vocal overdubs, and a refreshing no-holds barred approach to the whole project. The second half of the album in particular (from Destine onwards) includes several little "four seasons in one song" pocket symphonies. This isn't your run of the mill verse-chorus-verse-chorus-repeat to fade stuff.
In terms of surprising those who may have only heard her previous album, Late December is not quite the cricket bat to the face that Life Is Sweet was after You Gotta Sin..., but is reassuring proof that Maria McKee is still an artist looking to keep her fans - and herself - on their toes.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In which La McKee follows up the superb " Peddlin' Dreams" . Hey, so there's 2 reviews for the price of one. As usual the vocals are sublime, the production is uncluttered and rightly places THAT voice to the fore of the mix. The songs are the usual selection from Maria's apparently bleak World view. On the way she also reclaims her own "A Good Heart" and does a lovely, sparse version of . ( Not that there was much wrong with dear old Feargal's stab at it and I 'm sure the royalties were welcome).
In short, a triumph, well worth checking out - if it galls that she will be remembered for " Show Me Heaven" so be it although she has a raft of great songs and as has been said of The Blues; its a sad music that makes you feel good.
In short, a triumph, well worth checking out - if it galls that she will be remembered for " Show Me Heaven" so be it although she has a raft of great songs and as has been said of The Blues; its a sad music that makes you feel good.
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