I know I should hate this album. It’s from an aspiring Denver based singer songwriter called Katey Laurel and is called “From Here” and is in pretty much standard Nashville country pop in its sonic style.
Like I said, I should hate this album. Sure enough, there is some sugary sludge (a synonym for Nashville country pop, by the way) to wade through like “Begin Again” but who am I to begrudge a girl the opportunity to take the radio route to the Grand Ole Opry. All is, fortunately, not lost in the credibility war as our Ms Laurel then pulls out of the dive and takes a mellow and confident stroll into Ingrid Michaelson territory with the ear friendly “Blue Skies Comin’”. Then she goes all sentimental with the fluffy “Everything I Love” that harks back to better days as, indeed, does “My Funny Boy”. You can tell she is on a roll as “Pieces Of The Moon” follows quickly on to make the most convincing case for hot milk and cuddles that I have heard of late.
She is sentimental, solidly mainstream and right up the middle of the road commercial and is therefore just about the dictionary definition of all that I should despise but I just can’t bring myself to do so. Katey Laurel, it would appear that I am glad to make your acquaintance.
The album is available from CD Baby.