Cinderella Stories
- 6- song CD
Produced by Robert Hanson
and Kelly Walsh;
Engineered by Paul Bish;
Recorded at Horizon Studios,
Attleboro, MA;
Executive Producer,
Robert Hanson
I love it when I receive a CD and it ends up being a refreshing surprise – Kelly Walsh simply shines in her six-song CD, Cinderella Stories.Laden with
texture, clear passion, and layers of terrific sounds,
Rhode Island’s Kelly Walsh impresses with this CD. Though Kelly
is a singer/songwriter, she is not alone in this recording, her songs are injected with excellent instrumentation for along with her guitar playing she has supporting musiciansMark O’Brien on bass and drums, Robert Hanson on acoustic and electric “strums’, and Paul Bish on piano.
The result: A very well-recorded, beautifully and superbly arranged CD.
Certain songs highlight percussion, piano, acoustic guitar - whatever choices that were made, I applaud, for they shape and define the vibe of each particular song. For example, one of my favorites on the CD,“Glass Slippers”
comes across dreamy and inspiring - thanks to Kelly’s delivery and the piano section. “Herald My Heart” shows that Kelly can add bite to the songs when called for; convincingly emoting the lyrics of the songs, she is surrounded by a warm, jingly sound that goes back and forth between the jumpy, percussive
beats to a more rock guitar...very dynamic. The other tune that stood out was the opening number,“Swill” - a catchy tune that features nice percussive rhythms and guitars, along with Kelly’s voice. I hope to see and hear more from Kelly Walsh as she is a talent just waiting to emerge
and others would benefit from and truly enjoy the sincerity and energy that she offers through her music.
Kelly Walsh: Press
I vividly recall the first time I saw Kelly Walsh on stage. She
stood cowboy-booted and erect, guitar strapped over the shoulder.
She had the rail-thin contour and the long black hair every rocker
wants. She had a pale, I-love-the-night complexion and, of
course, tight jeans. Or were they leather pants? Whatever. You had to watch. Kelly didn’t mess around. She just stepped up and stroked three power chords over and over, plunging into the american classic “I love rock and roll.” She was all the strut and all the swagger of Joan Jett and the crowd loved it. That was years ago. Now, listening to her new CD, Sea Notes, I’m struck by the direction she has taken. The rock and roll heart has not been lost, but Walsh apparently chose in her latest work to challenge herself to produce music with lyrics that are reflective, thoughtful, romantic, and all hers. Her first collection, Cinderella Stories, had a moodier, punk-like edge to it. Sea Notes is more contemplative. The lyrics contain mini, loose-ended stories, and cannot quite be described as ballads,
laments of celebrations. The songs have a dream-like feel. Forget Joan Jett; these songs remind the listener of KD Lang, maybe Sheryl Crowe.
Sea Notes was mastered at the Highview Inn in March and
most of the songs were written and composed in Block Island’s
slower months. Putting the tracks together at a Block Island hotel
was “a way to put more of the energy of the island into,”
said Walsh. Perhaps the Block Island influence has softened Kelly’s edge
and brought introspection to her work. It would make sense. After
all, she spends a lot of time cruising the island and enjoying its
special spaces. She writes about those influences, thought it is not the crux of the work. For instance, she sings about seeing in her friends the
bad effects of hard drinking and late-night roaming. And she flirts
with the freedoms afforded a single person in an under-populated
place where the possibilities are generally a function of the
imagination.
Whatever her motivation, Walsh’s latest work is a pleasant
surprise that will pave the way for a harder-hitting third collection.
Andy Foehr, of Block Island’s Turtle Gopher, provides clean,
unobtrusive leads in songs like “Don’t Praise the Sun.” In this
song, the longest track on the CD at 4:30, Walsh is generous in
her imagery. The reprise, “Your touch confuses me like little bits
of ecstasy,” evokes emotions about lack of devotion, and about
the confusion that comes to love centered in the hard-hitting
nightlife. Serena Andrews, who accompanied Walsh last year on a national
tour of coffeehouses and more, chimes in on this one to
nice effect. Andrews is listed in the CD credits, but her vocals and
keyboard are hard to pick out. This is because she performs on
just two tracks. This is unfortunate. Andrews’ gripping piano could have
lent nice rhythm and a few melodic leads to some of the songs, thereby
effecting a more emotional response to the Walsh’s heart-felt lyrics.
“Hercules” is an anthem of a song, and a great one for Block Island, where
relationships are sometimes more intimate
than they should be. An early morning visitor turns a great friendship
into more, and in the end, less. Walsh has this hero face her actions, and her
friend, by ironing out the incongruities quickly. “Keep it Simple” is the most rocking tune, a naughty little ditty about a relationship without commitment. It’s a humorous tune that’s all about the Block Island seasonal worker’s lifestyle. It’s full of drinking, dancing and beach parties, and of
course, sex.
“Anymore” is a song about making a final break, and is perhaps
the most Joan-Jett of all the tunes on this CD. Bassist Robert
Hanson stands out on this track. While the licks are intense,
Walsh is restrained, and somehow I wanted her to shout the lyrics
like a righteous rock star who, indeed, proclaims “I’m stylin’ right
through this!”
“Visiting Frances” is a very slow, sad song about a lover
who’s left for another. Here, our hero resigns the break-up to fate.
Joel Beauchemin steps it up on the violin on this one, and it’s a
treat.
“Big Ideas” is perhaps the most unusual track. It features a
sexual and hard Jethro-Tull-like ending before a few minutes of
excellent New Wavish sound that recalls X’s “Riding with Mary.”
The record is put out by Walsh’s indie label “Zazen Records.”
The CD is available at island locations including the Book Nook,
Daily Market and the Shoreline. Or stop by Mohegan Cafe while
Kelly’s bartending for an autographed copy.
Sea Notes is a great summertime addition to your
collection. To learn more about this B.I. performer,
check out www.kellywalsh.com.
Hard Rocker Kelly Walsh cogitates
in a gentle way in latest collection
Who she is: Kelly Walsh What she plays: “You could say it’s acoustic rock,”
Walsh said. “I also refer to it as girl pop.” Walsh’s songs are driven by lyrics. She lays sparse guitar lines as a backdrop for her vocals, allowing her voice to guide her songs from the moody Swill to the confident Lessons. Walsh
moves from folk-rock to pop-rock. But when her voice mines the alternative-pop genre, Walsh reaches for and occasionally captures the subtle authority of the Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan “A lot of times, I will be inspired and the whole song comes out in five minutes,” said Walsh of Providence.
“Other times I’ll be sitting around with a guitar and have some old lyrics that have been sitting around. “I’m definitely all about the lyrics.”
Influences: Walsh’s listening tastes range from the late ‘70’s and early ‘80s rock ‘n’ roll of the Replacements to the early ‘90s alt-rock of
Superchunk. Other influences are Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders and Debbie Harry. History: Walsh has played guitar for six years, including stints in two Providence bands – Randy and Plummet. “Now I’m just doing the solo
thing,” she said. “It seems to be working out the best.” Recording: “I’ve been eight-tracking in a hackish sort of way in friends’ basements,” she said. “I’m planning to go back in the studio in a month and
try to put something decent out.” Drummer Mark O’Brien will accompany Walsh on those recordings. Walsh plans to sell the result – a five-song EP featuring all-original music – at her shows. Where to hear Walsh: She plays tomorrow from 7 to 9 p.m. outside OOP!, 297 Thayer St., in Providence.
August is a big month at Captain Nick’s.
After a first week that included bands
and DJs, Mass Conn Fusion will return
August 9 and 10 with their funky mix
of R&B, blues, Motown, jazz, and disco.
Sally Taylor (the daughter of Carly
Simon and James Taylor) and her band
will appear August 11. Opening for them
will be Block Island’s own Kelly Walsh
and band, returning to Nick’s as part of
the Best of the Block Island Music Festival
program that invites popular bands back
on Thursday nights. Walsh plays at 9:30 p.m. and Taylor will begin
at 10:30 p.m.
Another BI favorite, Peter McConnell, will rock with his band
August 13 and 14. It’s a second trip this summer for McConnell,
who always draws an enthusiastic crowd of locals.
Sugarcoat, another Music Fest alum, will play August 15. With a
smooth and funky sound, female vocals, a tight rhythm section and
flashy horns, they filled the dance floor at Nick’s earlier this year.
Beatlemania, featuring members of the show’s Broadway cast, will
make their second trip to the island this summer August 16 and 17.
Thursday, August 22 brings Kilgore Trout, a return from the 2001
Music Fest. Warren, R.I.’s own Young Neil and The Vipers will play
August 23 and 24. And the last weekend of August will feature the
groovy swing sounds of Ryan Hartt and The Blue Hearts on Thursday
29 and Friday 30. Finally, Saturday 31, Captain Nick’s will groove
to the sounds of the Glamour Girls, who will take us from the 1950s
through to the music of today.
Block Island musician to tour East Coast
Kelly Walsh – Block Island’s very own Kelly Walsh
takes the stage in support of her second release, “sea Notes,” an upbeat,
thought-provoking collection of elements and laughter inspired by the sea, sun and salt air. Walsh’s original brand of BlockRock surfs the waters of pop, punk andfolk before crashing into rock n’ roll’s sandy shore. Backed by Serena Andrews(piano), Robert Hanson (bass) and Michael Witt (drums), Walsh attempts toanswer the island tourists’ most asked question: “So... What do you do here allwinter?”