You Gotta Sin to Get Saved

Amazon.com
Maria McKee's voice--equal parts Dolly and Aretha--had frequently been great, one song at a time, but it wasn't until You Gotta Sin that this former Lone Justice singer was perfect start to finish. McKee's best batch of songs ever are complimented here by the twisted guitar of Jayhawk Gary Louris, which matches McKee, scream for scream, especially on the closing title track where Maria sends packing the guy she's been chasing all along. She's all over the place--"I'm Gonna Soothe You" is soul, "Only Once" honky-tonk, "I Can't Make It Alone" hard-edged pop--but it all works because McKee has finally reconciled her spirituality with her need for the sensual, over-the-top anthem. --David Cantwell

You Gotta Sin to Get Saved,Maria McKee,Geffen Special Prod.,Alternative Pop/Rock,College Rock,Country-Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

You Gotta Sin to Get Saved

Average customer rating:

Soothes the Soul
The Female Version Of Tom Petty
Queen among the outlaws.
Maria's hidden gem
A CD worth saving

You Gotta Sin to Get Saved
Maria McKee
Manufacturer: Geffen Gold Line Sp.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Maria McKee
Lone Justice
Shelter
Life Is Sweet
Peddlin' Dreams

ASIN: B000000P0N
Release Date: 1997-10-07

Tracks:

I'm Gonna Soothe You
My Lonely Sad Eyes
My Girlhood Among The Outlaws
Only Once
I Forgive You
I Can't Make It Alone
Precious Time
The Way Young Lovers Do
Why Wasn't I More Grateful (When Life Was Sweet)
You Gotta Sin To Get Saved

Amazon.com

Maria McKee's voice--equal parts Dolly and Aretha--had frequently been great, one song at a time, but it wasn't until You Gotta Sin that this former Lone Justice singer was perfect start to finish. McKee's best batch of songs ever are complimented here by the twisted guitar of Jayhawk Gary Louris, which matches McKee, scream for scream, especially on the closing title track where Maria sends packing the guy she's been chasing all along. She's all over the place--"I'm Gonna Soothe You" is soul, "Only Once" honky-tonk, "I Can't Make It Alone" hard-edged pop--but it all works because McKee has finally reconciled her spirituality with her need for the sensual, over-the-top anthem. --David Cantwell

Customer Reviews:

Soothes the Soul.......2006-02-24

Maria soothes the soul with this, her second solo album. Backed by the Jayhawks and old-friends from her Lone Justice days, she rips through the songs--some originals, some cover versions--with abandon. For proof, listen to "I'm Gonna Soothe You," which basically wraps you in its warmth. "My touch is gentle, my body is warm ..." she sings, stepping out from the speakers. She's sexy, saucy, inviting and sweet all at once; and envelops you with her passion. Further proof: Her wondrous remake of the Goffin-King classic "I Can't Make It Alone"; and her raucous ode to her Lone Justice days, "My Girlhood Among the Outlaws." A true classic - and for $7, a no-brainer. Buy it.

The Female Version Of Tom Petty.......2006-02-19

Mckee after left Lone Justice,(80s Mtvs favorites) wanted to lead her music to a new level, she had folk , southern and country influences she wanted to capture in a studio , so with the help of Justices former keyboardist Mr. Brody and Don Was in production she started with her Van Morrison favorite tunes and musical references as well Tom Petty teachings and some of his musicians too, the result is an album with all the melancholly of southern, the beauty of the depressing lyrics in some tracks and the emotion of love , lost love and hope of love, life, childhood memories and even some sense humor for a broken heart such as in "only once" , only a few girls have followed the path that country southern and blues legends (cash, Petty etc.) started and Maria Mckee is one of them "You Gotta Sin to Get Saved" is one of the highest points in her career same as in "Life is sweet"
HM

Queen among the outlaws........2005-07-18

She's only known by hits like "Show Me Heaven" and a song written for Quentin Tarantino's soundtrack Pulp Fiction "If Love Is A Red Dress". But she's on a scene more than twenty years. She started in early eighties as a lead singer and songwriter in the roots rock band Lone Justice. After they disbanded in 1986 she went solo. Three years later she recorded her first solo album Maria McKee.
This is her second album. A mix of soul and country music. The covers (Van Morrison's My Lonely Sad Eyes and The Way Young Lovers Do, Gerry Goffin and Carole King's I Can't Make It Alone) sounds like they are recorded for the first time and like her own. Few country songs Only Once and My Girlhood Among The Outlaws are beutiful love songs that could be done by Gram Parsons or Emmylou Harris, not to mention Precious Time or Why Wasn't I More Grateful, You Gotta Sin To Get Saved or I'm Gonna Soothe You.
This album is a masterpiece.

Maria's hidden gem.......2004-03-07

This is most definitely a classic album from Maria. In fact, it's her best. I am sorry that it hasn't received more recognition from the new country community, but that's how the cards fall sometimes. Everything from the sweet memphis sound of "I'm gonna soothe you" to the bittersweet "Only Once", is a showcase for the endless talents of Ms. Mckee. Like most of the alt-country she was bred on the punk sound of the eightees and traditional folk music that was ignored at the time. Her only misfortune was bad timing. The decade of Van Halen and Poison would have had a difficult time appreciate a work of art in this vein. If you like Chrissie Hynde and/or Janis Joplin, this album is perfect for you.

A CD worth saving.......2004-02-12

Maria McKee was on fire in the mid-80's, first with Lone Justice and then out on her own. Her commercial success wasn't as huge as her talent, but on the bright side maybe that's why we can buy a CD like this for 7 bucks. While I prefer her earlier material, and she seems to be slowing down a bit in this 1993 release, it is a fine recording.

She experiments with some new sounds here, if a decade-old recording that heavily references influences from two decades earlier can be spoken of as in any way "new". We suddenly have Maria with horns and songs in several genres that fit broadly under a blue-eyed soul umbrella. These include the opening disco-like track, two Van Morrison covers (and a couple of songs that mimic his style), and material that sounds more like Muscle Shoals. There is also some country music and some simple ballads. I'm not sure her voice is best-suited to the material here - I preferred her as a more enthusiastic rocker - but her performances are top-notch.

Some of the instrumentation can sound dated, unlike her earlier recordings (distorted electric guitar solos that are lovely but from another time, or disco influences), but there's some great songwriting here. Mostly, this is a pleasant recording that lets me enjoy one of my favorite voices doing music that isn't quite my favorite. I've always liked the homier version of "I Can't Make It Alone" by the Continental Drifters, and McKee does a nice cover here, but her (amazing) voice nearly overpowers the material. There are some truly outstanding moments, though. "Only Once" sounds like a young Emmylou Harris covering an old country song, but with a stronger voice than Emmylou ever had, and I was shocked that Maria wrote this one herself - it sounded like genuine country. I can see why some reviews felt she was genre-shopping on this CD, but she does this genre in a way that would make Gram Parsons proud. "My Girlhood Among the Outlaws" is a wonderfully mature song also penned by McKee, and "Why Wasn't I More Grateful (When Life Was Sweet)" is another high point, one of those Van Morrison-inspired songs at least in style. I presume the later (out-of-print) "Life Is Sweet" is an allusion to this song. The rollicking title track is a sing-along novelty that sounded silly at first, but has grown on me. It sounds like it would have been a crowd-pleaser in concert.

Overall, this is a more subdued Maria McKee than in her earlier work, and I preferred her with a plain old guitars-bass-drums rock band, or with the folksier sound of her first solo CD, instead of with the brass and somewhat softer vocals here. But her voice is still at its peak, the songs are well-written, and while it may be a bit dated, it's a bargain and it's one of a half dozen chances to hear this great voice on an original CD.

You Gotta Sin to Get Saved
Average customer rating:
You Gotta Sin to Get Saved

Manufacturer: Geffen
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000BYJ6
Release Date: 1997-10-07