Kylie Harris: Press

"Soulful Music coming out of Nashville...Kylie delivers!"

Kylie Harris - Love, Lessons And Lies
Produced by Marco Giovino
Engineered by The Pigeon Club Studios in Hoboken, NJ
Additional engineering by Don Kerce at Anarchy Recording Studios in Nashville, TN and Doug Lancio at Doug's Basement in Nashville, TN
Mixed by Doug Lancio and Niko Bolas
Mastered by Richard Dodd

Nashville singer/songwriter Kylie Harris has had a hell of a career. At 17, she was the youngest person to ever win a Gold Guitar Award. Her first two albums won her top country album of the year in her native New Zealand. She also hosts a TV show, "The Edge of Country," on Great American Country, and she plays in country legend Patty Loveless' touring band. With a resume like that, you should expect a lot out her newest album on Fuzzy Feet records, Love, Lessons & Lies.
The album opens with "Different Place, Different Time," a song that shows Harris' diversity as a songwriter. You would expect a song with a country feel to open the album, but instead Harris gives us a jazzy, Norah Jones-style song. Her vocals travel smoothly over the sounds of a console organ, combined with the laid-back melody of electric guitar, played by G.E. Smith, who has worked with the likes of Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger and George Harrison. Later in the album, Harris brings back the jazz feel in songs "Poet's Dream" and "I Want To Be The One."
From the surprising opening song, Harris dives into the radio-friendly, catchy pop-country song "Down To The Ground." "Down To The Ground" showcases Harris' pop sensibility, as does the song "Drive."
Other songs on the album bring to mind the sound of old-school country artists such as Patsy Cline. "Love's Back Hand," a powerful song featuring Patty Loveless on backing vocals, demonstrates this sound well. "Somethin', Somethin'" also brings to mind the old-school country sound, and while it is not the most interesting song on the album, there's still something refreshing about the stripped-down simple style of the song.
Love, Lessons And Lies is a diverse album that is a lot of fun to listen to. Harris definitely lives up to expectations with the album. (Fuzzy Feet Records)
www.kylieharris.com

One quick listen to the new Kylie Harris CD, “Love, Lessons, & Lie” and it becomes obvious that she is a talented singer and songwriter. It is also apparent that she has used her critically acclaimed reputation and the influence of hosting GAC’s “Edge Of Country” television show to attract an extremely high level of professional musicians to accompany her on this new CD.

I have attended almost a hundred live performances of “Nashville” female musicians this year, and have listened to countless CD’s sent to me by promoters, artists, and record companies. Unfortunately, I lump many into the same category – I’ll call it “The Same” category, since they all essentially sound the same. Even the ones that were well produced fall into the “Same” category quite often. I was beginning to think the Americana genre, or Roots, or whatever they call it nowadays was doomed to sameness.

Not so with “Love, Lessons, & Lies”. Perhaps I was influenced by the very first track, “Different Place, Different Time”. It immediately struck me as different in a very good way. It’s a haunting tune, somewhat reminiscent of Chris Isaak’s great song, “Wicked Game”. There is some good guitar work on this cut, and Harris gives it a very sultry performance.

Just when you get used to the first cut, she switches gears and goes a tad country with “Down To The Ground”. After the first song’s originality and unique qualities, I was caught off guard by the second. Halfway through it, at the first break, I realized I really liked this one, too. And so went the rest of the CD. Each and every track was good. That’s a rarity. I even got a little more of the Chris Isaak influence on “I Want To Be The One” and “Poet’s Dream”. I don’t know if Isaak actually was an influence to Harris or her producer, but I sure picked it up.

The instruments played on the CD run the gamut of Americana and Country. One can hear the subtle influence of the National String, accordions, acoustic guitars, a good slide guitar and even a clarinet and violin. Seven guitar players are listed on the CD jacket. Couple the perfect mix of instruments with the crystal clear voice Harris possesses, and the CD has all the qualities of a Grammy nominated album.

I can see this CD being played on Country stations, as well as mainstream radio, and easy listening stations. It’s a crossover CD, with tunes that can please most anyone’s tastes. That itself speaks wonders for the CD and its artists and producer. To get more Country play, I would consider adding some pedal steel to tracks 2-6 and 8-10. Shania Twain used to release two versions of the same CD – one for country and one for the Hot 100 audience. She was able to do that because she had crossover qualities, as does Harris.

As far as I am concerned, it was perfect for my tastes.

Kylie Harris didn't move 10,000 miles from New Zealand to Nashville to become a TV star - it just kinda worked out that way. In Fact, the effervescent host of GAC's "The Edge of Country" is herself a talented singer-songwriter who has performed on the Grand Ole Opry, opened for Kenny Rogers and Ricky Skaggs, and served as a member of Patty Loveless' backing band. As a songwriter she conveys both emotional depth and a frisky wit, and the lilting speaking voice you've heard on TV becomes an appealing, engaging singing voice onstage. Check out her myspace page (www.myspace.com/kylieharrismusic) to preview a couple of songs from her upcoming second American album. (May 24th, 2007)