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Paper Hearts (Audio CD) Reviewed By Dr. Wesley Britton of Bookpleasures.com
- By Dr. Wesley Britton
- Published January 31, 2012
- Music Audio CDs & DVDs
Dr. Wesley Britton
Reviewer Dr. Wesley Britton: Dr. Britton is the author of four non-fiction books on espionage in literature and the media. Starting in fall 2015, his new six-book science fiction series, The Beta-Earth Chronicles, debuted via BearManor Media.
In 2018, Britton self-published the seventh book in the Chronicles, Alpha Tales 2044, a collection of short stories, many of which first appeared at a number of online venues.
For seven years, he was co-host of online radio’s Dave White Presents where he contributed interviews with a host of entertainment insiders. Before his retirement in 2016, Dr. Britton taught English at Harrisburg Area Community College. Learn more about Dr. Britton at his WEBSITE
View all articles by Dr. Wesley Britton
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Musician: Katy Boyd
ASIN: B005TK1QA4
SINGER/SONGWRITER KATY BOYD CARVES POIGNANT STORIES OF REAL PEOPLE ON HER NEW CD, PAPER HEARTS
UPCOMING BAY AREA SHOWS PLANNEDPaper Hearts, the second album from California singer/songwriter Katy Boyd, is the sort of soft country/folk enjoyable on rainy afternoons when you want to relax and can’t go outside. It’s slow, personal music perfect for coffeehouses or small, intimate gatherings when you’re serving tea or wine.
The short collection is
nine original tunes and Boyd’s cover of “Can't Find My Way Home,”
a bluegrass take on a Steve Winwood Blind Faith contribution. Throughout the release, producer Thomm
Jutz provided guitars, keyboards and harmony vocals along with
Nashville stalwarts Justin Moses (banjo, mandolin, fiddle), Mark Fein
(bass), Fats Kaplin (steel guitar, accordion) and Lynn Williams
(drums). As all but one of the selections are mellow, slow-paced
introspections or story songs, the musical settings are spare,
laid-back, and tasteful background for Boyd’s mature voice and
comforting melodies.
The album opens with the gentle, folksy traveling song, “Jigs & Reels & Ferris Wheels” which sets the tone for the rest of the performance. Personal insights begin with the clever “Time Machine” in which Boyd sings, if she had such a device, she’s warn Jesus about Judas, Juliet about Romeo, and “I wouldn’t marry you.” “Colors” is almost the album’s centerpiece with the singer telling us she’s a rainbow, free, full of colors like yellow, white, and green that illustrate the palate of her poetic personality. On the other hand, in the witty “I'm Not Depressed, Boyd says she’s suicidal but feeling the best she ever has. “Borderline” is perhaps the collection’s most contrived effort at songwriting, with all the clichés about being on the line pulled out for a woman somewhere in the place between whiskey and wine.
Looking outward, Boyd
sketches a portrait of her “Mama” who “never intended to hurt
no one, but it just worked out that way.” “Mary Katherine
Magdalena” is a shamed Catholic girl who doesn’t understand why
what’s good for a man isn’t good for a girl. “Happy Single
Mothers Day” is very old-fashioned country in which a footloose
mother considers putting “the kids up on EBay” and promising
delivery the next day. The only really up-tempo number, “Circus
Folk,” concludes the album. It’s full of images of circus acts
that are metaphors for a colorful family and a tightrope act akin to
“falling in love with you.”
Katy Boyd has been winning songwriting contests and earning high marks for her festival appearances. Word has it, she has another release scheduled for 2012 with many of the same players on Paper hearts along with a new musical partner, Marty Atkinson. So expect that duet collection in the coming months. In the meantime, Paper hearts is for those who need some warm, low-key songs to brighten up a gloomy day.
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