190170-anne-mccue-blue-sky-thinkin

Anne McCue: Blue Sky Thinkin’

Despite the fact McCue had a hand in writing every one of its dozen songs, any one of the selections might just as easily be mistaken for a standard tune that originated in the ‘20s, ‘30s or ‘40s.
Anne McCue
Blue Sky Thinkin'
Flying Machine
2015-02-10

Perhaps it’s a sign of respect for our musical forebears, or added evidence that our modern music is undergoing a revival. Either way, it’s clear that for many musicians these days, there’s a deliberate attempt to return to their roots. Take Anne McCue, for example. Although she’s Australian by birth, she showed a willingness to embrace Americana after her career got a boost with an opening slot on a Lucinda Williams tour and a subsequent move to Nashville in 2006. Assorted accolades followed, many of them noting the authenticity she brought to her rootsier stance. The same could be said once she started her own radio show, “Songs on the Wire”, a Nashville radio program offering a diverse array of music, much of which is decked out in decidedly traditional trappings.

With her fanciful new album Blue Sky Thinkin’, McCue takes that fondness to what appears to be an entirely new level. Despite the fact she had a hand in writing every one of its dozen songs, any one of the selections might just as easily be mistaken for a standard tune that originated in the ‘20s, ‘30s or ‘40s. McCue opts for a kind of ragtime revelry, an approach that involves sax, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, violin, accordion, double bass and a carefree ambiance overall.

Although both the mood and the music seem to lend themselves to scenarios which involve booze, bravado and bordellos, McCue’s perky attitude — along with the colorful paintings she chose to adorn the album’s cover — suggests she had a somewhat mischievous intent in mind. Indeed, several songs come across as quite a big tease. When she utters the lyric, “Mama don’t rock / Daddy don’t roll / Devil’s in the middle / And he wants your soul,” the sentiments she’s hinting at become about as dark as it ever gets. On the other hand, McCue can tend to get a bit testy at times. For example, on the song “It Wasn’t Fun While It Lasted” she mercilessly lambastes a lame-ass lover by raking him over the coals with a long list of transgressions. This is a woman who doesn’t feel any obligation to simply stand by her man, especially when she has ample reason to rebel.

Still, that forthright repast doesn’t detract from the playful attitude the album conveys overall. McCue mostly seems quite content to indulge in more frivolous pursuits and a kind of unabashed sentimentality shown on such tracks as “Little White Cat,” “Dig Two Graves” and “Save a Life”. That carefree innocence is a joy to behold, as well as a timely reminder that not everything expressed these days has to be chock full of doom and gloom. More importantly, it’s a milestone of sorts in McCue’s career, one that suggests she’s ascended to a new plateau in terms of creativity and accessibility. Like the eternal optimism its title suggests, Blue Sky Thinkin’ portrays its maker as having a knack for both sass and brass.

RATING 6 / 10