Review By Dan MacIntosh, POPMATTERS.COM
Artist: Kelly Moneymaker
Album: Race against the Sky
Review By: Dan MacIntosh
Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)
If you take a moment to read Kelly Moneymaker’s bio, the first question you’re likely to ask yourself is, ‘How could this girl possibly be from Fairbanks, Alaska, of all places?’ That’s because her album opens with a song called “Swampy Things,” and then proceeds to present a number of other swampy little numbers.
Although Moneymaker’s biggest claim to fame may be the brief period she spent as a member of the all-girl vocal group Exposé, she’s also had a fairly eventful career both before that and after it, as well. She initially worked with those crazy guys, The Tubes, but then went on to collaborate with artists ranging from Beatle Ringo Starr, to lounge acts such as Wayne Newton and Connie Stevens, to un-categorize-ables like Meatloaf.
All of that is history, of course, which brings us to Race against the Sky, a wonderfully soulful album. As a performer, Moneymaker just doesn’t seem to know the term half-hearted because she goes at these various soul and rock songs like her very life depends upon her performances. The way she sings “Hello Beauty” is a lot like the great Tina Turner might have done it – like a full force gale.
Moneymaker also has a way with the turn of a phrase. The title to “Black Magic in Blue Jeans,” for instance, just rolls off the tongue perfectly. The track, speaking of Tina Turner, also has a gospel-y power complete with black gospel choir-like backing vocals. The track’s passion is also heightened by its Stones-y electric guitar solo.
She follows the rollicking good time of “Black Magic in Blue Jeans” with a gentle ballad, “Fall in Love.” On it, she sounds like someone that’s been burned one too many times. “I don’t wanna fall in love all by myself anymore,” she warns a lover she is obviously falling in love with.
Along with the Tina Turner comparisons, the music on this album will also likely appeal to Bonnie Raitt fans, as all these Race Against The Sky songs feature old school rock and soul values. In other words, there are no obligatory rap sections or annoying electronic dance elements. You get the impression Moneymaker went into the studio with the stubborn goal of making a record the way they used to do it. The result is an organic and satisfying collection of music.
Just the way Moneymaker does such a cool call-and-response thing during “Best Kind of Friend” will make you feel super good inside, if you’ll let it get under your skin. Once again, Moneymaker combines churchy vocals, with gutsy guitar, all filled out with warm backing vocals.
In other places, Moneymaker gets really funky – you know, she shakes her moneymaker, so to speak. With “Get Your Love On,” she pours out a cry for love and social justice, the same way Staples Singers used to do it, all the while putting these timeless words to a groove-centric electric guitar riff.
In a world where Miley Cyrus’s tongue gets more attention than almost anything of true musical value, Moneymaker’s Race against the Sky is such a breath of fresh air. This is music made from the best ingredients on Earth (sorry Snapple), and when you create a meal out of top shelf elements, it’s nearly impossible to go wrong. This is not trendy music. It’s likely not music for the hash generation that only wants the newest of the new. Instead, it’s the kind of music you still see performed during PBS TV fundraising nights; the kind of soul music that stands the test of time.
It’s not fair to merely label Kelly Moneymaker as a former member of Exposé because she is so much more than that. It’s safe to say Moneymaker is writing and recording the best music of her life. We can only hope and pray these songs reach an appreciative audience – they’re just too good to waste.
