CD REVIEWS
By Michael Swanger scenescribe@mchsi.com
Kasey Anderson
“Nowhere Nights”
Red River Records
Kasey Anderson’s “Nowhere Lights” reveals a croaky voice singer and keen songwriter mature beyond his young age. What really impresses, however, is Anderson’s ability to bare his soul and reveal his discontent for his former hometown of Bellingham, Wash. and an ex-lover who lives there. Anderson’s introductory liner notes state that he lived in Bellingham, “for eight years; five years longer than I should have and two years longer than I wanted to... leaving behind a few good friends and more than a few burnt bridges, most of which are still smoldering.” The mournful ballads (“Bellingham Blues,” “Leaving Kind”) and roots-rockers (“All Lit Up,” “Sooner/Later”) that follow are “equal parts apology, indictment, eulogy, charge and benediction.” Though Anderson’s vocals perhaps too closely resemble those of Steve Earle’s, like Earle, he sings with conviction. CV
(Kasey Anderson performs Saturday, May 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Vaudeville Mews. $5.)
Chase Coy
“Picturesque”
Universal Republic Records
Though signs of a musical apocalypse abound (Lady Gaga, “American Idol,” Adam Lambert, commercial radio), add Chase Coy’s “Picturesque” to the veil of misconception that major record companies cast over the uninformed general listening public. In short, how anybody who has passed through puberty and has an ounce of musical taste would buy this record is stupefying (which explains why it will sell). So breezy is its sound, so wimpy is Coy’s voice and so predictably lame are the album’s themes of sappy teenage love on songs like “Who’s To Say,” “Never Had the Courage” and “Coming Clean” that it makes Josh Groban sound like Michael Buble (think about it). Throw in a duet with Colbie Cailat (“If The Moon Fell Down”) and you have the makings for inclusion on the soundtrack for Armageddon. CV
(Chase Coy opens for Jason Reeves on Sunday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. at People’s Court. $10 - $20.)
