Nellie McKay Album: “Get Away From Me [PA]”

First, thoughts on the DualDisc format: it's pretty cool. My car's CD player won't play the CD, which is a bummer, but all my other players spin it fine, so it's not that big a bummer. As for the DVD side of the disc, well, the highlight is the 5.1 surround mix of the album itself. The sound is fantastic. The bonuses are: a very good (but brief -- only 26 minutes) concert film, including two new songs; and two studio recordings from the period between the release of the album and the fall '04 presidential election. Both of those last two songs are great, and deal with politics in a totally un-heavy-handed manner. At the same time, it's clear that McKay is dissatisfied with the current administration, as well as the choices we had to replace it.

Now, the album. Well, it's awesome. McKay (it's pronounced "Mick-Kigh," apparently, by the way) is obviously a talented woman, and the talent sometimes threatens to get out of her control. But it never does, even on a track like "Sari," a hip-hop track that really ought not to work but totally does. Every song is good, but my particular favorites are "Ding Dong" (the catchiest song about suicide ever written), "Change the World," "Manhattan Avenue," and the hilarious "Clonie," in which McKay's lyrical wit is at its keenest.

I liked this album an awful lot when I bought it in the spring of 2004; now, a year later, it's even better. It's one of those albums that doesn't give over all its secrets at once. It rewards attention. There aren't too many artists who do that, and there are NONE who do it in so many ways. By turns funny, yearning, subversive, cynical, and sincere, this is a seriously good piece of work, and if the next one comes out tomorrow, then it isn't a moment too soon.

My goodness! Now THIS is a debut CD!!

Nellie McKay's "Get Away From Me" is either the best debut CD of the year, or one of the worst. She's clearly too full of creative energy to make anything boring or run-of-the-mill, so instead she offers this - a sprawling 2-CD set that covers about 30 musical styles, with her ethereal voice and strong piano skills as the only consistent threads.

Many reviewers seem a little stunned that such a young woman could create such music. I am too, to a degree - she displays an amazing range, from the torch ballad of "Manhattan Avenue" to the BeeGees-flavored "Change the World" to the Western Swingin' "It's a Pose" to the punkish-rap of "Inner Peace." The arrangements are layered, complex, and infectious - this is one fun album to listen to. Nellie may dive into piano jazz, but she don't make background music.

Nellie's youth becomes more evident in her lyrics, which are often cute, inflammatory, and silly. Some tunes border on novelty items (and some, like "Won't U Please B Nice," cross that border), but only a few hint at the real woman inside. Nellie is a master lyricist, but it's impossible to tell when she's being sincere, and when her words are a smokescreen. My guess is that every song reflects a little piece of her soul, but it's certainly possible that this whole album is a put-on.

Still, if she's going to make music this good, she can put me on any day! "Get Away From Me" isn't for everybody - it's for those who love great music without borders, those who don't have a "favorite" genre of music but love it all, as long as the artist is fueled by creativity. Nellie McKay is clearly one of the most creative artists in recent years - here's hoping she ends up being one of the most prolific as well!

I was driving to the Fed X building to drop off a package when I first heard Nellie McKay playing and speaking live on 89.5 fm WPKN in Bridgeport Conn. Though dropping off this time sensitive package was of deep importance to me I was glued to the radio station and could not leave my car, held captivated by this fascinating young woman. Each time she'd play a song on the keyboard the musical and lyrical value were not typical of what I normally hear most singer song writers perform i.e straight ahead rhythms, predictable forms, simple chords, typical "I love you" words etc... I was impressed. Not only that, the answers she gave to the well informed DJ interviewing her were startling intelligent, thoughtful and witty. She kept me on the edge. Imagine my surprise when I found out she was only 19! My curiosity was peaked after the interview and when I returned home I immediately went to the Google search engine and put in her name. This quickly led me Nellie's web sight and there I got a little more insight to this talented musician. The following day, my dear friend TJ Orlando called me up and we chatted about all things as usual and I eventually mentioned my hearing Nellie. Where upon TJ gave out a hearty yell and said she had just been given a package regarding the young songstress. I had TJ quickly send me the 2 discs which make up Nellie first major label release "Get Away From Me". Most probably a title spoof on Nora Jones' "safe" cd "Come Away With Me". Apparently, Nellie wanted to call this double CD "Penis Envy" but I guess that title was too scary for some retail stores who seem more comfortable selling violent computer games - but that's a whole other subject. Maybe for the next CD, when she's a national star, they'll give her more leeway. Anyway, after repeated listenings I must say, I was not disappointed. Here is a genuine super musical talent. Not the kind of one dimensional talent found on American Idol but a multifaceted artist who is bursting at the creative seams. Nellie's song writing compared to 99% of what most artists do when releasing a full disc, is extremely eclectic which taken by itself is a breath of fresh air. Her vocals and subtle arrangements and of course precise production by Beatle engineer turned producer, Geoff Emerick glue it all together. And there is an energy in each song/performance that seems to be more interested in trying to break new musical ground than trying to win the hearts of safe commercial radio. Don't get me wrong, Nellie's music is pop but left of center pop. That's what attracts me to it. Though obviously brought up in an age of rap, Nellie has cleverly incorporated this and other contemporary styles with old world aesthetics found in earlier 20th century song writers like Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, the Beatles (in their mid 60's experimental phase) and Joni Mitchell. There is also an element of jazz that is pervasive in many of the chord structures Nellie uses. All of this adds up to a unique, charming, potpourri of musical servings with some humor to boot. I could go over each song and describe their uniqueness but I think that should be a surprise for the listener who goes out to purchase this work.

The nerve of a young upstart to release such an eclectic debut CD and as a double disc no less! Reminds me of some other American eclectic musical maverick who did the same thing back in 1965: the late great Frank Zappa with his debut double album Freak Out! Well kids, you can freak out on Nellie's new CD. There is plenty to be inspired by here. She sings well (like a young Doris Day), plays piano like a young Diana Krall, is well versed on mallet instruments and writes lyrics that make you laugh and think! Real interesting combination.

As long as Nellie can stay clear of those superficial marketing A&R record company types who try so hard to box an artist into one corner and turn them in to bland one hit wonders, I think we will be hearing a lot more of Nellie. She is the type of artist that can raise the bar for musical talent in these super prefabricated musical times. Yeah, she's only 19 but man, she has serious potential to shake up the music world.

A lot has been made recently of Ms. McKay (and here's a fun fact: it's pronounced "Mc-Kai") that's made me curious of her stuff. She's been on Letterman, O'Brian, etc. She's still very young. Blah, blah, blah. None of that stuff is important. What's important: this is an amazing collection of music. If I was to go out and collect a dozen or so various talents to put together some strange tribute album for some haphazard cause, I MIGHT get as interesting a mix of songs as what Nellie McKay does all by herself.

I'm always hearing people trying to compare her to Eminem, which is strange. She IS political. That much is certain. And occasioally, her lyrics are angry, which is such a nice juxtaposition with some of her Doris Day style melodies. But she's never mean. Sarcastic, occasioally, but not mean.

The only other musician that kept creeping into my consciousness while I was listening to this cd was Billie Holiday. Whether or not this was a fair analogy or not, I'm not sure. But when Billie sings "Strange Fruit" and you realize that it's about lynching, then you'll understand what I think Nellie McKay is trying to do, and often succeeding. She's more than writing music; she's advocating social change and forcing you to listen to the lyrics.

For those who care: my favorite songs are "David," "Sari," "Ding Dong," "the Dog Song," and one I don't see mentioned too often "Won't U Please B Nice" which tickles the heck out of me.

The "parental advisory" edition has a few harsh cuss words, so if this is the sort of thing that bothers you, take a gander at her (what Amazon calls) "clean" version. I haven't listened to that one yet, but I plan to buy one soon.

I was lucky enough to hear about Nellie a few months back and even luckier to have obtained some demo CD's of her songs. I loved them, she was so "very different" from the usual CD's that make up the charts and from what I was listening to.

When I heard she had signed with Columbia, I was pleased, but as the approach of her release date came closer, I was worried that the songs / uniqueness of her performance that got me "hooked" on those demos would be somehow missing or over-produced.

I didn't need to worry one little bit. This CD deserves all the plaudits it is getting. Nellie has a knack of writing catchy lyrics, playing different styles and it has enough diversity on there for anyone who dares to take the plunge and buys this brilliant CD.

It's always difficult to pick out tracks but for me the standout ones are "Sari" "I Wanna Get Married" & "Toto Dies"

It does seem strange to have the CD spread out over 2 discs. It's not as if you have all the same style of songs on one CD and a different style on the other, they are mixed well throughout both. If, as stated on another review, Nellie did it because of her "love" of playing vinyl, and turning the record over, then I for one hope there will be a version released on vinyl.

Singers like Nellie don't come around too often, lets make sure she stays around for many years to come.

I look forward to listening to her future releases.