The Bottom Line
Pros
- Get Happy
- Coucou
- I Was a Little Too Lonely (You Were a Little Too Late)
- Rhode Island is Famous For You
- Thanks for the Boogie Ride
Cons
- None
Description
- Inspired arrangements encompassing genres from surf-rock to swing, rockabilly, and more
- Erin McKeown is one of the best, most overlooked multi-instrumentalists around
- With only one original ("Melody"), McKeown still manages to dazzle every last cover tune
Guide Review - Erin McKeown - Sing You Sinners
It's almost like Erin McKeown's voice was made for American standards. On her latest effort, Sing You Sinners, McKeown picks up a handful of classic Americana, jazz and Vaudeville-era tunes and runs them through a wringer of a jazz-rock backup band. The result is what can only be described as an incredibly creative, impressive album.The world being what it is, it seems almost second nature now for folksingers to take a few swings at politicians and one of the myriad social topics at hand. McKeown, however, kicks off Sinners with her version of "Get Happy," which rolls right off her as if it were written with her voice in mind.
With a swing in her step and her tongue in her cheek, McKeown moves from Judy Garland on to Nat King Cole, big band numbers, and some more deliciously obscure tunes like the album's greatest highlight, "Rhode Island Is Famous For You."
Cover albums always risk the chance of sounding like something an artist does when they can't seem to find creative inspiration from their own skills. Sing You Sinners, however, is far from your typical cover album, as McKeown's creativity flows from rockabilly to surf rock, jazz and swing, stretching the boarders of her incredible talent as a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and composer.
