Album: Leaving Kansas / Artist: Holly Long / 13 tracks: 57:21 / Skim Milk Productions
If
you are not familiar with the music of Holly Long, then you have been missing
out on something pretty special. The singer/songwriter’s CD Leaving
Kansas,
which will be released on April 15th, is best described as the
junction at which pop and roots music converge. Long, possesses the lyrical
insight, and poetic gifts of Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins, while vocally she
is earthy, but never gritty. Her songwriting is exemplary and there is not one
weak song on Leaving Kansas.
Long explores a lot of different colors and moods on this album, but she avoids the pitfall that befalls some artists, who try to become all things, to all people. Her ballads explore humanity at its core, raw, emotional level, from broken spirited humanity, as depicted in “Brokedown,” and enhanced by Jim Price’s lamenting violin, to the healing missive, “Simply,” on which Long turns in a breathtaking, soulful vocal performance. “Simply,” is comprised of gospel flavored background vocals, and a blues rhythm, which the artist revisits on the eleventh track, “Sunday Redemption,” a song on which she is accompanied vocally, by the fabulous T. Mychael Rambo and George Faber.
The third track “Trust Me,” opens with an underlying keyboard motif reminiscent of Double’s 1986 hit song, “Captain Of Her Heart.” Long’s fragile vocals, invite the person who is the object of her love, to just one more time, allow themselves to be vulnerable, to risk being loved again, to let her in. Holly Long’s ability to bare her soul makes “Trust Me,” work lyrically and vocally.
Leaving Kansas, is the third CD that Long has released this decade, after being devastated emotionally and physically, while suffering the debilitating effects of a severe heart infection, that left her in a weeklong coma and with the need to learn how to walk again. Just like the previous two albums, Leaving Kansas, should win special favor from the critics.
Long, producer Anthony J.W. Benson and recording engineer Ian Terry (David Bowie, Diana Krall, Leonard Cohen), have gathered together and mixed a fine cast of musicians, who include, violinist Jim Price and keyboard wizard Peter Schimke, who plays the Wurlitzer and Fender Rhodes, as well as throwing down some awesome Hammond B3 organ grooves for the song “Pain And Glory.” No less than five guitarists, Holly Long (acoustic), Jay Graf (acoustic, electric), Chuck Wilson (steel / acoustic), Nicholas Markos (electric) and Chris Bates (electric/acoustic), contribute to Leaving Kansas, as each of them play emotively and with attitude.
Backup vocalists, Jennifer Grimm, Pamela McNeil, Mary Jane Alm and Alison Scott, lend their beautiful voices to “Homeward Bound,” “Pain And Glory,” and are unbelievable on the hauntingly beautiful, yet melancholic, “Bones.” Cellists Jacqueline Ferrier-Ultan and Michelle Kinney, stir the soul, as their bows weave magic, complimenting the spectacular vocal performances of Long and company on “Bones.”
Harp player George Faber sensitively accompanies Long as she sings “He And I,” a song that speaks to the close relationship that the singer enjoys with her song Truman. The images are vivid, the words powerful, and the emotion is pure love.
Holly Long’s Leaving Kansas, is a treasure trove of beautiful sparkling jewels that will take your breath away. Her songs will move you, cause you to reflect, and hopefully remind you to say a quiet thank you for even the smallest mercies that come your way.
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Reviewed March 2008
