“I kicked a beehive just to see you run.” I like that. I like that in a story.
I wouldn’t leave you now
I’m having too much fun
These are the opening lines for “Sideshow”, a song hidden in a CD called House of Cards. It’s a 7-track collection of ‘American folk pop’ by a duo called The Keller Sisters. They are actually sisters — Sheryl Thirlwall (who writes the words and music) and Kerry Carranza.
That story-telling continues through House of Cards. “Ballad of Varla Jean” talks of tragedy and sadness, for example, and “Jenny’s Kitchen” talks of long friendships with rough edges.
If there were wavy keyboards playing on “The Rock Bottom,” I would have solid ground on saying that there is something vaguely “Mama Told Me Not to come” about it. (The Tom Jones version). This one’s a mover. I did an arms-bent-at-the-elbow groove to that tonight as I put my coat on to go to the shop.
David Newman’s gypsy guitar caused me to grab the CD cover and check out who was responsible for all the Django in “Las Vegas”. Ed Ivey’s trumpet conjures pictures of retro European plainclothes detectives; his doublebass providing the PC Plod. This song pads past you like a black cat, brushing the drums with its whiskers.
I’m gonna fight fire with fire
well it’s not my style but I’m not myself
this angel just left choir
I should have come to this CD sooner than I did. I read that the sisters had fun making it, and you can tell. They didn’t shy away from more serious topics either, which presents us with a finely balanced collection of ballads, sing-alongs, and sentiments that are easy to identify with. Add to the mix some fine musicianship and you have a collection good enough to serve up in Jenny’s Diner.
http://www.thekellersisters.com/