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Album Review | ‘Hey Guys, Watch This’ by Nellie Mckay
Nellie Mckay returns with The Carpenter Ants with a collection of subtly country-flavored originals.
For those unfamiliar with Nellie Mckay’s work, you might expect something a bit more in line with her 40s/50s aesthetic on the cover of her albums.
In some ways, you would be correct. Her music frequently calls back to the big band and jazz standard sounds of mid-century music (most notably on the Doris Day cover album Normal As Blueberry Pie). However, Mckay mixes this with a menagerie of genres (such as hip-hop, rock, pop, folk, and even reggae) alongside a playfully witty songwriting style that completely sets her apart from all other contemporaries.
Her 2004 debut, Get Away From Me, exemplifies this. I had the luck of catching her live a few years back while she was promoting her prior album Bagatelles. Her stage presence and musical talent only furthered my appreciation of her work. Nellie is back with her first album of original songs since 2010’s Home Sweet Mobile Home. Joining her for this project is the long-standing country-soul group The Carpenter Ants who provide the lush sonic textures that make up this latest release.
In the opening track, “The Drinking Song," Nellie seeks to drown her sorrows.”…
