Kelly Willis - What I Deserve (13 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

What Kelly Willis Desrves is a Bigger Audience

Brian D. Rubendall | Oakton, VA | 04/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best mainstream country album of 1999. Hands down, no argument. Kelly Willis performs the same kind of country music as the Dixie Chicks. Why she is not more popular is a mystery. "What I Deserve" is an absolute gem in which Willis brings out the best in songs written by others, including her husband, Bruce Robison. Highlights include "Wrapped," "Not Forgotten You," and "Cradle of Love." Willis's voice is as fine as country music has to offer and she manages to avoid the slick production that ruins many modern Nashville products.If you like this album, check out Bruce Robison's "Wrapped" which features the song of the same name. It'll give you a completely different perspective."

A superbly realized album by unique country/rock singer

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 06/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When MCA and A&M were unable to market Willis to commercial radio, the Austinite struck out on her own to record this brilliant fourth album. A subsequent deal with Ryko has resulted in the most solid release of her career. Her voice retains the country flavor of earlier albums, but the songlist and style have expanded, eluding such simple classification.Willis' confidence as a songwriter has grown, as she contributes five new titles and a reworking of her little-heard "Fading Fast." Her songs emphasize the exquisite dichotomy of her voice: world-weariness delivered with an unfailing resolve to hang on. Whether it's a lost lover or the loneliness of misplaced family roots, she walks the edge between recovery and disaster, unable to find the former and unwilling to fully give herself up to the latter. In addition to her own works, she picks thoughtfully from the catalogs of Bruce Robison, Damon Bramlett and Paul Kelly, and less successfully from the works of Nick Drake and Paul Westerberg.What Willis clearly deserves is the critics-darling reception afforded Lucinda Williams, and the popular acclaim (and sales) rung up by heavily groomed hacks from Nashville's factories."

Loosely country, completely enchanting

karolinatx | Dallas, TX | 11/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Such an amazing voice from such a slight body! Kelly Willis has wowed critics and listeners alike since her return to the music scene with What I Deserve. The album is her strongest ever -- perhaps because of the amazing songwriting talents who contribute, such as her immesnely talented husband Bruce Robison and the intense Damon Bramblett (both of whose CD's I highly recommend as well). Kelly's album is a fit for anyone who appreciates good music -- it's country in the loosest sense -- don't buy it if you expect good ol' Nashville rhinestone twang. I would also recommend a live Kelly show to anyone, though she'll be off the touring circuit for a while because of the upcoming birth of her baby. So in the meantime, buy this album, sing along (it's impossible not to), and enjoy alternative, small-label country at it's finest."

What an AMAZING cd!!

dee_castille | 03/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kelly Willis has the best voice around!! You will be able to sing these songs by heart in no time at all!! I just don't get why they don't play her music on the radio. Her songs on this album are the best songs yet(except "That'll Be Me", which was on her self titled album "Kelly Willis")!! She just captures your attention with her songs and her voice! The best song on the album is "Wrapped" because it is just so good, I can't really explain why... Bruce Robison, her husband, wrote it, he has amazing song writting skills!!! Bruce also wrote "Angry All The Time" for Tim McGraw, see Bruce Robison also! She is the most amazing singer/songwriter ever!!!! Seriously get this cd!!!"

Praise and respect are what Willis deserves.

f.g. fletcher | sacramento, ca United States | 08/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How can a voice as enchanting and as beautiful be kept a secret, especially by a state as large as Texas? Kelly Willis -- accessible without being commercial, country without being limiting, experimental without being cacophonous, daring without being brash -- will immediately capture the interests of music lovers, whether or not they are fans of good country (that is, Texas country). "What I Deserve" offers a variety of music that is memorable, passionate, and lovely. Songs such as "Not Forgotten You" and a cover of her husband's song "Wrapped" will have toes tapping. Other songs such as "They're Blind" and "Not Long for This World" will testify to Willis' range and talent, both of which are unequalled by most of that offered by Nashville and country radio and basically by most of the music industry altogether. Only those conditioned by the commercialization of music perhaps will not dare to venture beyond Nashville and allow themselves to be exposed to Willis' melodious songs and beautiful voice."

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