The cover of Nellie McKay's "Get Away From Me" shows the 19-year-old artist with her arms raised in joy, wearing an enormous, borderline manic smile.
McKay's blissful pose is in sharp contrast not only with the album's title, but also with the parental advisory sticker in the lower left hand corner.
While at first it seems uncommon that the lyrics of a young woman with such an innocent and ecstatic expression could inspire such a warning, listening to this eclectic double album makes it clear that there is very little that's common about Nellie McKay.
"Get Away From Me" provides a breath of fresh air for those tired of the generic and monotonous nature of pop music. Rather than conforming to a single genre McKay blends elements of jazz, folk, country, and hip-hop on "Get Away From Me," creating a sound that defies traditional categorization.
On her debut album the singer/songwriter showcases her impressive vocal range as well as her capacity to play a plethora of instruments including the piano, organ, xylophone and recorder.
Although "Get Away From Me" is unfortunately branded with a parental advisory warning due to occasional obscenity, McKay's lyrics are well-crafted and poetic, dealing with topics ranging from the pains of poverty, alcoholism and depression to joys of walking a dog.
The album's first single "The Dog Song," which McKay performed on The Late Show with David Letterman Friday night, is relatively light-hearted compared to the rest of the album but is nonetheless an excellent song.
It's clear that Nellie McKay's genre-defying style on "Get Away From Me" will have a positive impact on the all too stagnant state of pop music today.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
