Paula Kelley - Nothing Everything
by John Clarkson
published: 8 / 5 / 2002
Label:
Stop Pop and Roll
Format: CD
intro
Fine debut solo offering from Paula Kelley, the former Drop Nineteens guitarist and Boy Wonder frontwoman, which puts a contemporary take on the classic Brian Wilson and Burt Bacharach sound
Once described as "the queen of baroque pop", Paula Kelley first drew public attention in the early 90's as a member of the shoegazing group, the Drop Nineteens, and appeared playing guitar and on occasional vocals on that band's 1992 debut album 'Delaware'. In the time since then Kelley's music has developed an increasing sixties bent, and both the Boston based singer's next bands, Hot Rod and Boy Wonder, with whom she recorded an album each, combined indie guitar sounds with Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach and early Bee Gees influenced arrangements and harmonies. 'Nothing/Everything', Kelley's debut album as a solo artist, is her purest excursion into sixties territory yet. The distortive and grunge effects that were evident on 'Speed ! Danger ! Death !' and 'Wonderwear', her albums with Hot Rod and Boy Wonder respectively, have now completely vanished, and the sophisticated vocal arrangements and meticulous harmonies that have been expanded upon to take their place are tighter and more acute. In an era in which it seems that the market is drearily overflowing with other similarly-influenced albums , Kelley's album, far from being simply another nostalgic romp, however, stands out far apart from others in the crowd by having a surprisingly contemporary feel. Other bands, experimenting in the same format, have often tended to remain rooted as close to their source as possible, recording their albums on vintage gear. More concerned with songwriting, however, than simply capturing the sound of an age, Kelley, who has also produced 'Nothing/Everything, has given it a fresh focus by recording it entirely on modern built equipment, that includes, as well as guitars and drums, pianos, a Moog, keyboards and strings. Her lyrics have a similar contemporaneous,being written with a wry twenty first century honesty Both 'Two Possible Answers (The Road)' and 'Everything' serve as self-therapy, looking unflinchingly at her own sporadic self-disillusion and doubt. "Everything I wanted seemed invisible to me" she sings mournfully on the latter. "Everything I wanted was away getting by/Everything I wanted I was afraid to try." 'Slug' tells of a relationship on the slide. "You're talking so much crap that your voice is rough" she sings about a boyfriend who has let her down with the sort of direct earthiness that would have got the song an immediate blanket radio ban if it really had been released in the sixties. 'Girl of the Day' meanwhile finds Kelley examining her own musical development and heritage. "I know Barry Gibb was wrong" she says simply about her hero, expressing, with a complete absence of nostalgia, her disappointment and embarrassment with his post seventies career. " 'Night Fever' gives me headaches. " Five of the twelve songs that appear on 'Nothing/Everything' came out on a limited-to-200 copies edition CD 'A Bit of Everything' from a couple of years ago. While there is not perhaps quite enough material for the most die-hard of Kelley fans, this minor quibble aside, 'Nothing/Everything is by all other accounts an acute, fine offering. It puts new life and energy into what is an often over-forced format
Track Listing:-
1 Two possible Answers2 Everything
3 You Gonna Make It
4 Nothing
5 All Request Hour
6 For Someone
7 Slug
8 Lucie
9 Girl of The Way
10 The Flight Under
11 Ordinary Mind
12 Showdown
interviews |
Interview (2002) |
Former Drop Nineteens guitarist and Boy Wonder frontman, Paula Kelley is back with her debut solo album, 'Nothing/Everything'. She chats to John Clarkson about, how despite its Brian Wilson and Burt Bacharach influences, she has kept it contemporary |
Interview Part 1 (2002) |
reviews |
Some Sucker's Life Part1 (2006) |
Versatile collection of demos and lost recordings spanning from the early 90's to the current day from American musician and singer-songwriter, Paula Kelley |
The Trouble With Success (2004) |
A Bit of Everything (2001) |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Elliott Murphy - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesBill Wyman - Drive My Car
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Philip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Deep Purple - =1
Jules Winchester - The Journey
Popstar - Obscene
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart