My Weekly Reader
"My Weekly Reader" is the sixth studio album by American singer/songwriter Nellie McKay, consisting of covers of hits from the 1960's. The album entered the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, and garnered positive reviews upon its release.
Background and release
"My Weekly Reader" is Nellie McKay's sixth album, and second cover album, following her Doris Day tribute album "Normal as Blueberry Pie."[1] The record consists entirely of covers of hits from the 1960s, including songs by Frank Zappa, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Moby Grape.[2] The album was released physically and digitally[3] on March 24, 2015.[4]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 68/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| The Boston Globe |  [6] |
| PopMatters | [7] |
| Rolling Stone | [8] |
"My Weekly Reader" was met with mixed to positive reviews from critics. On review aggregator MetaCritic, the album holds a score of 68, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[4] In a highly positive review, PopMatters' Steve Horowitz awarded the album 8 stars (out of a possible 10), commenting that the album "kicks serious butt," and praising McKay's minimal changes to most of the compositions. Horowitz also praised the album's nostalgia, commenting that "McKay understands the complexity of the past and reveals her empathy for a more hopeful time when love and peace were fresh thoughts rather than a debased slogan."[7] Rolling Stone's review, written by Will Hermes, was similarly positive, calling McKay a "renegade songwriter with an ultraflexible Great American Songbook sensibility," also feeling that "her musical smarts add the context."[8] National Public Radio's review, penned by Ken Tucker, was positive towards the album as well, commenting that "there's a pleasing tension between the content of the lyric and the lovely purity of her vocals," and praising her modernization of some of the material.[2]
Some critics had more mixed feelings regarding the album. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, writing for AllMusic, felt that while McKay sometimes "achieves a delicate balance between '60s reverence and a sly modern wink, a blurring of eras that plays to her strengths," she had ultimately made "odd" song selections that he felt were poorly-modernized; Erlwine awarded the album 3 stars.[5] The Boston Globe's Marc Hirsch was also critical of the album, calling the production "flat and dull" and expressing mixed feelings over McKay's minimal changes to the songs.
Personnel
|
Musicians
|
Production
Miscellaneous
|
Charts
| Chart (2015) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Heatseekers Albums[10] | 15 |
References
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Nellie McKay's Love Letter To Doris Day Listen· 4:25". National Public Radio. World Radio Network. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ a b Tucker, Ken. "Nellie McKay Celebrates The '60s With 'My Weekly Reader' Listen· 7:29". National Public Radio. World Radio Network. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ ""My Weekly Reader" Release History". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ a b c ""My Weekly Reader" by Nellie McKay overview". MetaCritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Nellie McKay My Weekly Reader (review)". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ Hirsch, Marc. "Album review: Nellie McKay, 'My Weekly Reader'". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ a b Horowitz, Steve. "Nellie McKay My Weekly Reader (review)". PopMatters. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ a b Hermes, Will. "Nellie McKay: My Weekly Reader (review)". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ "My Weekly Reader: Album Credits". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ ""Nellie McKay" chart search". Billboard.Biz. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 14 February 2017.