CD Review - Chely Wright - "The Metropolitan Hotel"

I finally got a hold of this album, released last spring, at a decent price and have given it a few spins. Fans of country, roots and folk will all find something to like here. By way of background, Chely Wright got lost in the Nashville shuffle in the early to mid 2000's and was dropped by her label. This is her first independent effort and one can tell that it's all her. There is a certain falsity that one finds among certain female country artists these days (cough, Faith, cough) and this album has none of that. Chely is involved in the writing of most of the songs here (again, also almost completely unheard of in Nashville) and the lyrics, especially, are from the heart. While she tackles themes of patriotism, nostalgia and mother/daughter relationships - nothing new there - she does it with genuine authenticity, honesty and without the jingoism that characterizes the country and music genre. (Not that I mind that, but I know it's not everyone's thing.)

While the melodies are poppy at times, this is not music that you're likely to find its way onto your local adult contemporary music station because it is just a shade inaccessible. (Its sparseness would be too challenging.) It is also certainly nothing you'd find blasting out of a parked pickup truck during a NASCAR tailgate party. I recommend that if you are looking to branch out and try something new, and also if you think you'd appreciate thought-provoking lyrics from a down-to-earth, mid-30s, Midwestern gal who's still trying to really make it, give this a go. I'm glad I did.

Overall rating: 8/10