Kelly Richey has a voice that's perfect for blues-rock. No one will accuse the Cincinnati, OH-based singer/guitarist (who is originally from Kentucky) of having a pretty or smooth voice -- she has one of those rugged, gritty, whiskey-soaked voices that blues-rockers are known for, and that voice serves her impressively well on
Sending Me Angels. This excellent CD doesn't cater to blues purists; not everything on
Sending Me Angels has 12 bars. But everything on
Sending Me Angels does have a wealth of blues feeling; that is true whether Richey is embracing blues-rock ("Lifetime Guarantee," "Nothin' to Do With Love," and "All the Help I Can Get"), roots rock ("Now You Need Me"), or blue-eyed soul "Sending Me Angels"). Richey is especially compelling on Nina Simone's "Nobody's Fault but Mine"; instead of trying to provide a carbon copy of Simone's version (which would have been pointless), Richey is wise enough to put her own stamp on the song. Richey brings toughness and grit to these performances, but she also brings a lot of vulnerability and warmth to the table.
Sending Me Angels is an album in which blues, rock, and soul are all important parts of the picture; it's also an album that is without a dull moment. ~ Alex Henderson