Kim Richey
Every River
I Know
Don t Let Me Down Easy
Let It Roll
Why Can t I Say Goodnight
This sophomore album may suffer slightly in comparison with Richey s stunning, self-titled 1995 debut, but there wasn t much else out there in 1997 that it didn t eclipse. Richey is a stellar songwriter (with several hits.
more » by others to her credit) whose own records straddle the rock/country divide, placing her squarely in commercial limbo. But it s our loss that there isn t a niche for songs like the gorgeous Every River, the insanely catchy I Know, the subtly 60s-ish Lonesome Side of Town, and the devastating My Whole World. Richey s voice is not Nashville s most distinctive, but it communicates a full range of emotions, and she abets it skillfully by double-tracking her own harmonies. The playing, writing, and fascinatingly varied stylistic touches here are a joy to hear; Richey s career merits your undivided attention. Ken Barnes