Kelly Worship.
One of my favorite musicians/artists/singer-songwriters has always, always been Kelly Willis. Well, "always" in the sense that, yeah, ever since I first heard one of her songs, I've been very loyal to her. I think I probably got hooked upon the release of her awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome album What I Deserve. "Not Forgotten You" may have very well been the first song I actually knew from her (though there's a chance that a little "Whatever Way the Wind Blows" - one of my favorites - was in the back of my brain somewhere before that). So, okay, always is a strong word. I was a sorta late-comer in a sense. But from the moment I became aware of her, I've been hopelessly attached to her and her music. Kelly is:
- The only artist I've ever seen in concert twice.
- One of two artists for whom I've won tickets to see in concert, but the only one whose concert I actually attended (sadly, the Allman Brothers didn't have me excited enough to show up, ha).
- The only artist whose record I've bought direct from the actual record label (Ryko and their green jewel cases rule). Which I did twice.
- The only artist whose autograph I have (twice, though I admit, I didn't get them in person, sigh).
- The only artist who recorded a song that I actually almost learned to play on the guitar when I still had a guitar. That song was the ever so great "Heaven Bound." I'd say I ended up with a Takamine guitar because of her, even. The guitar was sold (I'm a banjo man now!) to fund ... shockingly ... my first digital SLR camera, the old Canon 300D, the Digital Rebel. Which I had for a month before going to a Nikon D70. Which I had for a year and a half before I went to the Canon 30D. Which I've had for a year and a half, give or take a few months, and which I shall have for the foreseeable future, as it has triumphed over the Nikon D200 in this week's insane Photography Indecision 2008. But THIS ISN'T A CAMERA POST. I have an illness. A camera illness.
ANYWAY. There may be more things to add to that list, but whatever. The point is, I love Kelly Willis. I do. So last June, when she released her most recent album, Translated From Love, I should have been first in line to buy a copy, no? In fact, I should have ordered my copy from the woefully overpriced FYE, when they had some autographed copies to send out. But, I didn't. I didn't order right away, and then I didn't order down the line, either. I listened to the album many times over on Virb, and I was very strict with myself about the songs. No downloading in ANY way. No iTunes purchasing, no finding them on a webpage somewhere, nothing. I wanted the CD to be the way I got these songs. I wanted a pure CD listening experience. I've had none of the songs from the album on my computer, period. Not one. But months passed, and though I kept looking for a good price, I didn't buy. Until ... last weekend. I finally, FINALLY ordered my copy. It arrived today. And yeah, I hate that I waited so long, but it's so good! I love it. I really do. I love everything Kelly does. And this means I have all her albums again! Even the brilliant Fading Fast EP. Except hmm, I don't have that Christmas CD. YET. Hmmmm. I need to fix that.
Anyhow, yeah, thanks, Kelly Willis! A new album from her is like hearing from an old friend. Yay!
