Nicole McKenna
Stay Awhile (2003)

Review by: Michael Walls
Date: 7/15/03

Nicole McKenna is one of those people that could be singing about the calluses on her feet, but you wouldn’t notice or care because her voice is just so damn sexy.

With the intelligent sexiness of Sarah Mclachlan, the sophisticated poppyness of Shawn Colvin, the bluesy toughness of Sheryl Crow and the interesting quirkiness of Aimee Mann, McKenna mixes the best elements of some of today’s most popular female singer/songwriters, and creates an identity of her own.

This New York-based artist has been hitting the Village underground music scene for a few years, but the music isn’t what you’d expect from a CBGB’s regular. McKenna’s approach to her music is positive and upbeat, suggesting a rural-set background or upbringing, not a cynical concrete jungle lifestyle. With sultry pop melodies and hard-hitting, breathy vocals, Nicole McKenna is hard to ignore, no matter where she’s from.

The production on Stay Awhile is clean and polished with a unique and subtle style that has the distinct fingerprints of Singer/Songwriter/Producer Saul Zonana, whose CD Guinea Pigs was reviewed by 2 Walls Webzine. The songs are arranged and played with considerable care – songs that could simply be played with a single acoustic guitar and McKenna’s voice. But with Zonana’s guidance, the tracks are enhanced, tweaked and highlighted in all the right places.

But it all comes down to McKenna’s voice and presence. Her vocals on the title track “Stay Awhile” will practically melt your soul. “Take Me Over” has got that emotional, Sheryl Crow feel, both in vocals and acoustic guitar. “Ordinary Day” pops better than any radio hit you might hear and reminds me of Shawn Colvin’s style.

Nicole McKenna isn’t singing about feet calluses on Stay Awhile – it’s more about life in general. And for anyone who wants to kick their feet up, feel the warm summer breeze and enjoy life, this CD would only enhance the mood.