Easy

by

Kelly Willis

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In 1999, Kelly Willis stunned the music world with her ambitious comeback album WHAT I DESERVE, a record that won her a new audience with fans in the Alt. Country and Americana circuit. Now, after three years away from the spotlight Kelly has returned with EASY, an album that is not only different from anything she has ever pursued, but the best music of her career.

As promised by No Depression magazine and various reviews from all corners of the web, Kelly delivers an all acoustic album with prominent traditional country influence and a tinge of folk and bluegrass. The result is astonishing--her powerful, unique voice is a perfect match for the honesty and emotion of these genres, and it is a wonder that this is a project she hasn't pursued sooner. EASY is sheer beauty from beginning to end. Songs such as "If I Left You" and "Not What I Had In Mind" follow in the footsteps of some of the best moments of WHAT I DESERVE, Kelly shows her vocal chops on "Wait Until Dark" and the utterly gorgeous "Easy (As Falling Apart)," and the talent and emotion present in "Reason to Believe" will leave you in awe of the amazing abilities she posesses. While six of the album's ten songs were written by Kelly, she also showcases a number of works by other artists. Hubby Bruce Robison's "What Did You Think" and the bluegrass flavored "You Can't Take It With You" (which features guest performances by Dan Tyminski, Vince Gill, and Nickel Creek's Chris Thile) represents the album's wide variety of songs, while her cover of Kirsty MacColl's "Don't Come the Cowboy With Me, Sonny Jim" is the true highlight of the album. Every song present on this musical gem is sheer perfection in every way possible.

With the O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU soundtrack sitting at multi-platinum states, and traditional country making a comeback, it seems that EASY couldn't have arrived at a better time. With Kelly's amazing voice, the powerful musicianship of both her and fellow performers, and the project's acoustic flavor, the album is easily the highlight of her career. If you are a fan of Kelly, traditional music, or music that is just plain great, buy this one now, or miss out on one of the best albums this year has produced.