Thorn in My Heart: The Work Tapes

by Kim Richey

Overview

Kim Richey's recordings have always too mercurial to pin down. She's stubbornly followed her muse down the lanes of contemporary country, Americana, and adult alternative pop, but has never stayed in one place too long. Thorn in My Heart possesses country music's spirit at heart, but it's not exactly a country record. Produced elegantly and sparely by Neilson Hubbard, it is a brave, confident collection that is irredeemably melancholy. In order to pull this off, a songwriter needs to possess the twin gifts of lyric and musical understatement. Richey doesn't disappoint. Her characters are honest, vulnerable, wary, and confused; their disappointment never bitter; their optimism never totally vanquished when things don't turn out properly. They are lovers hopeful, wary, and wronged (but never commitment-shy), family members, and those who want to flee from dead dreams and bad relationships. On the country-tinged title track, the protagonist asks a lover who has pushed the boundaries to the breaking point if, no matter how hard she loves him, he will continue to be a source of pain. Carl Broemel's (My Morning Jacket) pedal steel, Pat Sansone's (Wilco) harmony vocal, and Will Kimbrough's acoustic guitar anchor Kris Donegan's electric and her voice. "London Town" is a lonely love song, accented by Dan Mitchell's French horn. "Breakaway Speed," with its reverbed guitar, is a midtempo country-rocker illuminated by textured pedal steel and killer guest duet vocals from Jason Isbell and harmony vocals by Trisha Yearwood. It's about a lover left reeling after being seduced and dumped in record time. The rocker "Come On"'s protagonist exhorts her beloved to flee with her from a dead-end town -- though she's not convinced he will. She's even willing to wait -- a little. "Love Is," a sparse country waltz, examines all of its contradictions; it's adorned with shimmering piano and a ghostly clarinet by Doug Mosher. In "I'm Going Down," her protagonist, accompanied by banjo, fingerpicked guitars, and piano, dedicates herself to escape at any cost. "No Means Yes" is a classic country, "no tell, motel" love song. Set closer "Everything's Gonna Be Good" displays Richey's character's sucked-up courage as she whistles past heartbreak's graveyard with nearly jazzy grace. Richey's characters on Thorn in My Heart inspire strong empathetic ties with listeners via simple, beautiful melodies and lyrical accuracy by turns poetic and accessible. It is yet another in a string of excellent releases by her, but it's also something more. It integrates everywhere Richey's been yet inhabits a terrain completely of her own design. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	07/29/2014
Label:	Yep Roc
UPC:	0634457237810
Rank:	112839

Tracks

1. Thorn in My Heart
2. London Town
3. Something More
4. Breakaway Speed
5. Angels' Share
6. Come on
7. Love Is
8. I Will Wait
9. I'm Going Down
10. No Means Yes
11. Take Me to the Other Side
12. Everything's Gonna Be Good

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kim Richey   Primary Artist
Pat Sansone   Wurlitzer,Bass Pedals,Percussion,Vibraphone,Organ
Thomm Jutz   Featured Artist
Evan Hutchings   Drums
Henrik Irgens   Featured Artist
Ben Glover   Featured Artist
Dan Mitchell   Organ,Piano,Wurlitzer,Flugelhorn
Doug Mosher   Clarinet
Mike Henderson   Featured Artist
Jason Isbell   Vocals
Mando Saenz   Featured Artist
Will Kimbrough   Banjo,Mandolin
Carl Broemel   Vocals,Pedal Steel
Neilson Hubbard   Piano,Featured Artist
Nate Company   Featured Artist
Michael Rinne   Bass

Technical Credits

Thomm Jutz   Harmony,Composer
Henrik Irgens   Composer
Ben Glover   Composer,Composer
Dan Mitchell   Harmony
Kim Richey   Composer
David Olney   Composer
Mike Henderson   Composer
Mando Saenz   Composer
Will Kimbrough   Harmony
Carl Broemel   Harmony
Trisha Yearwood   Harmony
Neilson Hubbard   Harmony,Composer
Nate Company   Composer
Nate Campany   Composer
Dave Olney   Composer
Pat Sansone   Harmony