Nellie McKay - Get Away From Me

Posted by: Mike Hughes on 29 October 2004

Amusingly titled I presume as a reaction to Norah Jones this is a double album debut from a 20 year old who has been writing songs for approx. 1 year. Some of you may have seen her recently on Later.

It clearly doesn't justify being a double but the potential is there for all to see. Opening six songs cover five genres exceptionally well and she is woman who clearly has a way with words. Google her and you'll find plenty of informatiion and downloads.

She may be a little wacky (read "individual" for some but for £9.99 it's worth a punt and it is currently the only thing on my CDX2.

Mike

Posted on: 27 November 2004 by Robert Derwae

Mike:

I had a chance to hear her live recently when she opened for Jonatha Brooke at a concert in a very small venue in my hometown (Woodstock, NY). I'd never heard of her, but I was completely captivated. What a unique and individual talent. Uncategorizable. And that may prove to be a problem in our age of slotting... I suspect the audience will have to learn to appreciate her wide-ranging talent (not likely) or she will have to focus in order to get a wide-ranging audience.

Robert

[This message was edited by Robert Derwae on Sat 27 November 2004 at 18:44.]

Posted on: 27 November 2004 by David O'Higgins

I have to agree, and what taste in choice of title for the opening track!

Posted on: 28 November 2004 by Mike Hughes

Goodness, I was beginning to think there was no-one out there bar me who buys such stuff. I kinda feel like that about Joseph Arthur and The Trashcan Sinatras.

Mike

Posted on: 02 December 2004 by Denis O

Bought the CD based on this thread and am listening to it as I type. It's certainly off the wall in a kind of Lyle Lovett way.
I quite like it which is more than I can say for her politics.

Posted on: 02 December 2004 by Mike Hughes

Denis O,

Not wishing to have a go but could you explain/clarify the politics comment?

Mike

Posted on: 02 December 2004 by Denis O

Certainly not taken as "having a go" Mike but I noticed on the CD case that Ms McKay is "a proud member of PETA"
As someone who lives in the country and enjoys many country pursuits I find some of the views of this organisation insidious in the extreme.
I suspect I may now be subjected to people having a go but so be it.

Posted on: 02 December 2004 by Stephen Bennett

PETA, for those who don't know stands for 'People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals'. Why anyone in the countryside or elsewhere would be against this, even if just in principle, is beyond me. Do all 'country persuits' have to be at odds with this aim?

Stephen (proud supporter of PETA)

Posted on: 02 December 2004 by Denis O

Stephen,
Your statement "is beyond me" tells me that our views will be diametrically opposed and any debate using this sort of media is difficult to say the least. I have no wish to fall out with you or anyone else because of their "legitimate" beliefs so I hope we can leave things as they are.
I thought the CD was very good by the way.

Posted on: 02 December 2004 by Stephen Bennett

OK Denis, but just check the www.peta.org website to see what they are all about before you disagree with Nellie's politics.

Stephen

PS Stop being nice so we can have a vicious net argument please!

Posted on: 07 December 2004 by Mike Hughes

Denis O.

Thanks for the clarification. I always thought PETA were okay until I read about some of the stuff their related groups get up to. I think the conclusion is that

a) this is probably not the place (I'm not sure where is).

b) I tend to work on the assumprion that if I had no idea what I was talking about politically at 20 then I'm not going to worry too much about the political views of other 20 year olds.

Mike

Posted on: 07 December 2004 by Stephen Bennett

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Hughes:
Denis O.

I always thought PETA were okay until I read about some of the stuff their related groups get up to. I think the conclusion is that

a) this is probably not the place (I'm not sure where is).

Mike, maybe we should take it into the Padded Cell; I'd like to know what you mean by that.

quote:

b) I tend to work on the assumprion that if I had no idea what I was talking about politically at 20 then I'm not going to worry too much about the political views of other 20 year olds.

Mike

At 20 I was a socialist, environmentally concerned vegetarian. Now I'm a socialist, environmentally concerned vegan.

You're right; we do change.

Stephen

Posted on: 07 December 2004 by Mike Hughes

Stephen,

Thanks for that. I'm not inclined to take it elsewhere. I guess my feeling is simply that whilst I support the broad aims of PETA there seems to have been plenty of investigative stuff out there that suggests that they are not as distant from extremist organisations as they claim. Whether that is good or bad is one of those things we could debate forever.

At 20 I was apolitical, music obsessed and meat eating. At 41 I am very political, music obsessed and meat eating.

You're right. We do change!!!

Mike

Posted on: 08 December 2004 by Stephen Bennett

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Hughes:
Stephen,

Thanks for that. I'm not inclined to take it elsewhere.
Mike

You're right; it's not an easy thing to discuss in fora; I'd just say than any pressure group has extreme elements (who, ironically, are often are the ones who actually get things changed) such as women's rights, black rights, workers rights etc.. But that doesn't mean the aims of the majority of the groups members or supporters are wrong.

Back on topic;

Though I support her politics, unfortunately, her music does nothing for me.

Stephen

Posted on: 08 December 2004 by Mike Hughes

Ah that rare moment when people in a forum actively elect to see that something, whilst worthy of debate, will simply go nowhere and thus, like mature adults, let it go.

Some of her music does nothing for me either but I prefer to encourage those who have the bottle to be truly individual and so "go Nellie..."! Ahem!!!

Mike