Kathy Hussey/Stranger Than Fiction Raku Records
Reckless drunks, redemption-seeking drag queens, horny good girls, stray dogs, even the rare well-adjusted lover...all are characters populating Stranger Than Fiction, the latest from Nashville-based singer/songwriter Kathy Hussey. Those unfamiliar with the charms of this fresh folk/pop voice will know her well and likely find her quite enchanting after spending some time with the new disc.
A concept album of sorts (all tunes were inspired by actual people and/or events), Fiction takes some bold steps forward from the strong starting point of her debut, the promising yet milder If Wishes Were Horses. The first set's arrangements centered around Hussey's capable acoustic guitar skills, and worked to spotlight skillfully-phrased yet straightforward lyrics. This time, deeper subject matter and a more complex lyrical style dictate the addition of subtle rock elements and an ever-present, almost undetectable dark sheen which unifies the set. The new sound works, and now when the toys are put away in favor of simple arrangements ("Man's Best Friend," "Some Will Never Know") the quiet beauty of what's left is striking.
Highlights here are plentiful. Outstanding storytelling anchors "Stop That Train," a tale which draws a comparison both figurative and literal between the hazards of addiction and an oncoming train. The lighthearted, love-crossing-the-Mason-Dixon-line adventure "Cherry Gingles" comes complete with swirling and irresistible harmonies. The sparse and sexy "Ice Cream Baby" casts Ms. Hussey as a small-voiced good girl barely able to control her desires to climb into a tasty, creamy tryst. The pop side of this folk/pop artist steps forward for the gorgeous, hook-heavy ballad "Just Like a Dream," one of the few tunes on Stranger Than Fiction that puts all of its can't-stop-playing-them cards on the table upon one listen.
All of these tales are communicated by a voice that is infinitely pleasant and bears an important similarity to the twists and turns of the artist's songs; every once in a while, when one least expects it, something new and engaging presents itself. It's obvious that the storyteller is intimately acquainted with her subjects, and we hear subtle changes in tone as the point of view changes. One voice tells us the story of "Samantha" (who's story is best left as a delightful surprise for the listener), while another comes from the perspective of an ever-faithful abandoned dog in "Man's Best Friend," and yet another communicates the artist's own personal history. And like these songs, the voice grows more interesting and gains more character with repeated listenings.
Fans of Shawn Colvin, Jonatha Brooke...even Sarah McLachlan and Dido...should clear a space next to their old Joni Mitchell records and fill it with Kathy Hussey's Stranger Than Fiction, a smart and affecting gem of true-to-life music and pictures.
A smashing debut from the Nashville writers' night and Wilhagans icon...In alot of cases, I've come to expect first C.D.'s from local songwriters to sound like a vain effort to transform acoustic/vocal music to something more elaborate, but resulting in something not as relative as one would like...Not the case here, as the vision behind the raw song explodes...Producer Bob Mater, it seems, must be an extension of Kathy, or vice versa...A very pleasant listen, especially for one like myself who is a Bonnie Raitt fan and an Indigo Girls fan (whose influences appear evident)...I was a Kathy Hussey fan already, too, so I'm very pleased to know that I can listen to her whenever I want to now...Buy it!!!!
Dirty Linen Magazine April/May '99 "In this self-produced album of original songs, Kathy Hussey displays a nice touch with both lyrics and guitar. "Table For Two" is a particularly insightful vignette which suggests that Hussey may be a songwriter to watch. Nashville music scene talents Tracy Nelson, John Catchings, and Brent [Truitt] are among those who contribute to the project."
Keith West WRVG-FM, Lexington
"...A fantastic songwriter! All the songs tell such a great story, and one thing for me...I listen to songs all day, and the songs that really hit me are the ones that I can get a visual picture of and boy you paint a pretty picture."
Amanda Hunt-Taylor singer/songwriter ("Your Love Amazes Me" 1995 CMA Song of the Year)
"Kathy Hussey...She will pull you in and keep you there. Her vocals will make you listen and feel. Her lyrics make you forget you're at a writers night, with stories that capture you and make you live them ... you will get lost in Kathy's performance as well as her songs... Her Independent CD is one of my FAV's of late... its titled "If Wishes Were Horses". She's an artist... I sat down and listened to every song twice... my new favorite independent/artist CD! "
Paul Reed Smith guitar maker
"Great music to make love to..."
Ken Gray songwriter
"No big hats, no big hair, no navels; just heart-felt performances of really good songs."
Mark Atherton songwriter, fan
I have not been so moved by music in years. Turn the radio on takes me back to my own childhood, If Wishes Were Horses gave me a fresh outlook on some very basic chords...Kathy's clear voice and inventive guitar inspired me to start writing again.
Bernard Hoskin songwriter, UK
"Lovely songs, beautifully sung..."
from earbuzz.com :
Sweet and sumptuous guitar playing, personal lyrics that touch your heart with their candor and playfulness, and a voice that soothes is in store for collectors of Kathy Hussey's latest CD, "If Wishes Were Horses". This is not really country music, no twang, only a natural voice, bare folk accompaniment with deep bass, occasional violin, jazz guitars, and a perfectly recorded acoustic guitar.
In Kathy's title track, "If Wishes Were Horses", the gently moving song showcases Hussey's songwriting talent and subtle ability to deliver her lyrics like a heart surgeon, painlessly entering your emotions with the heart of an artist. She writes, 'out in the back yard in my little kingdom, my subjects were all in a row, down through the bushes and into my castle, me and my prince we would go, but it wasn't long before i was grown, without a prince or a castle my own, and if wishes were horses then i'd ride a Clydesdale, if hope were a river then i could set sail, and if it wasn't for these then i'd be a sad sight indeed, cause if boat rides were ten cents then all i could do is sit on the bank and cry, my what a deal.' What a song.
Track 2, with it's Bonnie Raitt flavor, "Skin Deep", shows Kathy in front of a more R&B rock format - and she nails the genre with deft ability, 'your clothes are pretty like the company you keep, you spend your money but your talk is cheap'.
"Day After Day", opens with a classic jazzer guitar solo, and the tune moves with downbeat strums and siren like vocals, sweet and unassuming - 'day after day, week after week, year after year, i won't have to wonder, i'll have no fear, cause I know it'll be this way, and that you'll be here, day after day, year after year.' The amazing thing about this tune is that it sounds like a jazz standard already - wonderful.
The final track, which is true of so many artists, is a raw representation of what is closest to the artist - the song, "Along the Way", is a narrative of some of the tougher subjects in life and the nurturing comfort Kathy is providing to whomever she's singing to, 'you'll be afraid of growing old along the way, there'll be mysteries to unfold, but i'll do my best to keep you young at heart, and i'll shine my brightest when you feel you're in the dark, if you ever need me i'll be there, there's a place in this life that's ours to share, and you can count on me, let my love set you free, along the way.'