The Kennedys
Album: West
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 13
Website: http://www.kennedysmusic.com

Kennedys are husband and wife duo Pete and Maura Kennedy.Pete is the master of all things stringed and Maura is a superb singer. Both are fine songwriters. This year, Pete and Maura are celebrating twenty years of touring as duo by releasing no fewer than three new albums, featuring forty new songs. The first new album is "West", a duo album.The second and third will be solo albums by Pete and Maura respectively.

I first saw Pete and Maura in 1993 when they were members of Nanci Griffith's Blue Moon Orchestra. More recently, in 2013 and 2014, I have twice seen them perform their show "Trouble In The Fields- A Celebration Of The Songs Of Nanci Griffith" in my hometown of Southport. I am delighted to see that they are returning to play here again in May this year [at Grateful Fred's at The Atkinson on May 6th]. I will certainly be there to see them!

And what about their first new album of the year "West"? The simple answer is that, in my opinion, it's a superb album, a real cracker. After all, how could I not love an album of finely-crafted, Byrds-influenced-Country-tinged-Harmony- Folk-Rock?

Of the thirteen wonderful tracks on "West", all but two were written by Pete and/or Maura.The two exceptions are "The Queen Of Hollywood High"by the late, great John Stewart, which features John's own band. Sung by Maura, this is a superb tribute to one of America's finest songwriters. Incidentally, Maura sounds uncannily like Nanci on this track.

The other non-original song is "Perfect Love" a "ringing 12-string tune" by John Wilks, who was with British band The Records, who, like The Kennedys, were heavily influenced by The Byrds. Pete certainly captures the essence of The Byrds' jingle-jangle sound on this perfect piece of power-pop.

The remaining eleven Kennedy-penned songs are uniformly excellent, with memorable melodies and heartfelt, intelligent lyrics. As well The Byrds, The Kennedys take their reference points from the best of classic American music, from Woody Guthrie ["West"] to Buddy Holly ["Locket"] to Doc Watson ["Bodhisattva Blues"] to Chuck Berry ["Travel Day Blues"] and to The Everly Brothers ["Good Better Best"].

With such a plethora of good songs, it is hard to pick out individual tracks, as I like them all but I would make particular mention of "Sisters Of The Road", on which Maura is backed by a heavenly chorus of harmony singers in celebration of the female voice.

Another particular favourite of mine is "Signs", which sounds like a long-lost West Coast Psych-Folk gem from the mid-Sixties, courtesy of Pete's acid-rock electric sitar and Maura's sonorous folky vocals.Great stuff.

The uplifting, optimistic "Jubilee Time", which has Pete on lead vocals, is classic Country-Rock, in the style of ex-Byrds Gram Parsons and, especially, Gene Clark.

"Black Snake, White Snake"is an untypically [for The Kennedys] sinister, supernatural tale [by B.D.Love] about two sister snakes who "glide through the woods on a midsummer's night" ready to strike. The spooky atmosphere is accentuated by Pete's serpentine sitar.

I could go on and on about how good this album is but I will simply say that it is wonderful and that you should hear it.

I can't wait to see and hear The Kennedys perform these songs live in May.

Peter Cowley