Review By Andrew Greenhaulgh, Liverpool Post UK
Singers are a dime a dozen these days, particularly with the rise of reality shows like American Idol, The Voice, and The X-Factor. And while there are plenty of great voices out there, singers who’ve done their time in vocal lessons, singing through scales and fine tuning their pitch, it’s the rare artist that comes along who was truly born to sing. Theirs is the voice that captivates from the first note to the last and, whether they’re singing from the Great American Songbook or the Los Angeles Metro Yellow Pages, listeners are drawn in, enraptured and unable to turn away.
Fairbanks, Alaska native Kelly Moneymaker is one of those rare individuals.
Chances are, you’ve probably heard Moneymaker’s voice but just didn’t realize it as she’s been in the music business as a professional since the age of thirteen. She was a founding member of platinum selling pop trio, Expose, and has worked in multiple genres, seeing her work showcased in a variety of places like “Days of Our Lives” and “Grey’s Anatomy” as well as on the big screen in “American Pie,” among others. And along the way, she’s shared the stage with some illustrious talent, performing alongside artists as diverse as Keith Urban, Meatloaf, Stevie Wonder, and Ringo Starr, just to name a few.
Now, Moneymaker is joining up with a few musical friends, dubbed In the Black, for her latest record, Race Against the Sky. And as far as “session bands” go, it’s a pretty remarkable lineup. Featuring Gabriel Moses (Macy Gray) and Bruce Watson (Foreigner) on guitar, Michael Mennell (Kenny Loggins) on bass, Kim Bullard (Elton John) on keyboards and B3 organ, Herman Matthews (Tower of Power) on drums and Lenny Castro (Rolling Stones) on percussion, the band’s lineup is like a “who’s who” of music. And each and every player does their part to highlight the record’s highest point in Moneymaker.
And Moneymaker truly is the star here, as she should be. Her voice is smoky and whiskey soaked, rich and resonant. She sings with a powerful energy that recalls fellow vocal greats like Janis Joplin and Tina Turner, as she swaggers through thirteen solid tracks of blues-rock goodness, shining all the way.
“Swampy Things” get things off to a powerful stop, Louisiana-flavored imagery accented by moody, dark blues notes that undergird the artist’s rich tones and sensual delivery. “Eyes” lightens the mood a bit, a touch of dreamy guitar accented by plucky percussion notes while the title track is a slow builder that showcases the best of the whole ensemble, In the Black holding sway with rocking guitars and a swelling sonic vibe while Moneymaker just wails, her guttural screams bringing serious emotion and passion on the highlight track of the album.
Another great track is “Best Kind of Friend,” hot southern rock blues elements colored in by Moneymaker’s playful innuendo, her voice continuing to shine as songs like “Hello Beauty” and “Fall in Love” highlight the artist’s softer side, the ballads providing a quieter respite before Michael Mennell’s funky bass chops bring the feet to dancing and the boots to knocking again on “Drivin’ in the Rain.”
“No, No, No” begs for a Mick Jagger cameo with it’s rich swagger and chorus of background voices while “Bang a Drum” makes it’s case for song of the record with its building progression, the arrangement anthemic and epic as Moneymaker sings her way skyward through a powerful chant supported by killer guitar work and booming drums. Hearkening back to a sense of funk, “L.O.V.E.” closes things out on a high note, smooth harmony vocals merging over B3 swells and chunky bass.
Kelly Moneymaker may be the best artist you’ve never heard and that’s not an overstatement. Gifted with a voice that is simply stunning and surrounded by a recording band that’s as strong as any out there, Moneymaker makes full use of each and every element on Race Against the Sky, crafting one of the tightest blues rock records heard in a long, long time. Don’t walk, but run to your nearest record store and grab this record now. You won’t be sorry…
