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Kathleen Edwards, "Live From the Bowery Ballroom"
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The much-hyped alt-country troubadour commemorates her long tour in support of her debut album Failerwith this short but sweet live EP/DVD. The DVD portion is just thevideos for the first two tracks on the debut, "Six O'Clock News" and"One More Song the Radio Won't Like." They're quaint, simple affairsthat really don't follow the plots of the songs but show off the manyfaces of Edwards, so the videos themselves are a bit of filler. Clipslike these are for fans only anyway, as if you didn't see it on TV andit wasn't a hit, you'll never see it again. In that regard then,they're a nice addition. The live tracks aren't filler at all,thankfully, as they really show off how Edwards can lay it on thickwhen she wants to. In promoting the record, she appeared on all thelate-night talk shows, performed the single, schmoozed it up. But theperformances themselves on the shows were lacking, honestly, as if thiswas just another in a long line of essential evils that needed to befulfilled. On the EP's tracks, recorded — obviously — at the Bowery inNew York, Edwards lets her hair down and feels the songs a bit more.And though her voice warbles a bit here and there, it's not adetraction and she still comes off as great as all the hype makes hersound. "National Steel" was my favorite track on her album, and it getsthe full treatment, frailty and all, with small changes in voice hereand there as needed. Edwards starts it off alone, but when the bandkicks in, let's just say I hope she's paying them what they deserve,cause they bring it full scale. Guitarist Colin Cripps adds great licksand capable backing vocals, too, making the songs sound darn near theirstudio counterparts in tone. "Hockey Skates" next, and it's obvious howmuch the fans love it as they cheer it on when it starts. It's looser,and Edwards lazes her way through it, but no matter as it's still agreat song. Closing out the too short experience is a clever cover ofAC/DC's "Money Talks." It shows Edwards influences, sense of humor, andability to throw a good curve. I wish the EP had been longer, but it'senough to tide fans like me over until the next awe-strikingfull-length.
The much-hyped alt-country troubadour commemorates her long tour in support of her debut album Failerwith this short but sweet live EP/DVD. The DVD portion is just thevideos for the first two tracks on the debut, "Six O'Clock News" and"One More Song the Radio Won't Like." They're quaint, simple affairsthat really don't follow the plots of the songs but show off the manyfaces of Edwards, so the videos themselves are a bit of filler. Clipslike these are for fans only anyway, as if you didn't see it on TV andit wasn't a hit, you'll never see it again. In that regard then,they're a nice addition. The live tracks aren't filler at all,thankfully, as they really show off how Edwards can lay it on thickwhen she wants to. In promoting the record, she appeared on all thelate-night talk shows, performed the single, schmoozed it up. But theperformances themselves on the shows were lacking, honestly, as if thiswas just another in a long line of essential evils that needed to befulfilled. On the EP's tracks, recorded — obviously — at the Bowery inNew York, Edwards lets her hair down and feels the songs a bit more.And though her voice warbles a bit here and there, it's not adetraction and she still comes off as great as all the hype makes hersound. "National Steel" was my favorite track on her album, and it getsthe full treatment, frailty and all, with small changes in voice hereand there as needed. Edwards starts it off alone, but when the bandkicks in, let's just say I hope she's paying them what they deserve,cause they bring it full scale. Guitarist Colin Cripps adds great licksand capable backing vocals, too, making the songs sound darn near theirstudio counterparts in tone. "Hockey Skates" next, and it's obvious howmuch the fans love it as they cheer it on when it starts. It's looser,and Edwards lazes her way through it, but no matter as it's still agreat song. Closing out the too short experience is a clever cover ofAC/DC's "Money Talks." It shows Edwards influences, sense of humor, andability to throw a good curve. I wish the EP had been longer, but it'senough to tide fans like me over until the next awe-strikingfull-length. samples:
