Since she first took flight as the lead singer of the L.A. roots-rock band Lone Justice in the mid-1980s, Maria McKee has been considered to be one of the finest singers among her peers. But because of her rampant eclecticism in her post-Lone Justice solo career, a career that has seen her go from alternative rock to Broadway-like orchestral pop to country, she is also among the most underappreciated by the record-buying public. Her 2003 album HIGH DIVE was the first studio album she had put out since 1996's LIFE IS SWEET, and displays many of the traits that make her greatly appreciated by her peers.
The songs:
1. TO THE OPEN SPACES
2. LIFE IS SWEET
3. AFTER LIFE
4. BE MY JOY
6. MY FRIEND FOE
7. IN YOUR CONSTELLATION
8. LOVE DOESN'T LOVE
9. WE PAIR OFF
10. NO GALA
11. NON RELIGIOUS BUILDING
12. SOMETHING SIMILAR
13. FROM OUR T.V. TEENS TO THE TOMB
14. WORRY BIRDS
In general, HIGH DIVE illustrates the Broadway influence in Maria's music; her vocals are often quite dramatic and theatrical without being slavishly over-the-top, especially on "To The Open Spaces" and the reworking of "Life Is Sweet" and "After Life" from this album's predecessor. Working with her producer husband Jim Akin, Maria comes up with a lot of unusual arrangements that involve strings and horns set up in an orchestral fashion. Some of those arrangements may jar the ear at times if one thinks of Maria as a roots-rock icon, but it is only a minor irritant at best. Her songwriting is quite astute as well, with "From Our T.V. Teens To The Tomb" having a little social edge, and "In Your Constellation" returning her to something approaching Lone Justice territory.
The nearly seven year absence of Maria prior to HIGH DIVE's release almost made people wonder if she had finally packed it in and retired. It was obvious, however, that Maria wasn't quite through yet, and that she still had plenty to offer. HIGH DIVE put her on the right track.
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