Album Review – Kiely Connell’s “My Own Company”
#570 (Americana) on the Country DDS.
Singer and songwriter Kiely Connell first burst into the music consciousness in 2021 with her excellent debut album Calumet Queen. Her voice was so striking, and her songs so emotive and cutting, she made a strong and lasting impression that haunted you well after the last note sounded. It seemed a sin upon the nation that Connell was a virtual unknown self-releasing her album.
But sometimes even in this late stage Capitalist world, talent is rewarded. Connell took the momentum from Calumet Queen and earned herself booking and label support. She was sent out on tour opening for Ray LaMontagne and others, Thirty Tigers committed to releasing her second record, and respected producer Tucker Martine was tapped to help with it. The results would hopefully mean a breakout beyond the music blogs and east Nashville dive bars, and deliver Connell the expansive audience she deserved.
My Own Company is the result of those efforts, and one where personal turmoil met timely opportunity to take those experiences and memorialize them in song. After the suicide death of a personal friend and the collapse of an 8-year relationship, the challenge for Connell wasn’t mining inspiration to weave into emotional moments, it was fighting through tears to put words to her feelings.
You feel the palpable anger present in the rock-infused anchor track “Damn Hands” about a grope-happy stranger. No matter your stance on #metoo, it’s hard to not fall for the song’s infectious power. On the complete opposite side of the sonic spectrum, the hushed moments of “You Won’t Notice It” encapsulate frustrations every woman feels, and every man would be smart to understand.
The greatest songwriters are the ones who can manifest characters in your mind’s eye in five minutes or less, and get you to care about them. This is what Kiely Connell accomplishes on “Restless Bones” with co-writer Jake Anderson. Making yourself both the villain and the victim is an even greater master stroke of writing, which Connell does with co-writer Caitlin Cannon on the title track. And though My Own Company takes a rather bleak perspective throughout, the song “On The Mend” offers a glimmer of hope for healing.
Producer Tucker Martine makes sure the musical accompaniment knows its place through all of these moments, both delicate and stormy, while also affording important moments to allow Connell’s powerful voice to step out, especially at the end of songs where her warble is elongated well beyond a song’s conventional conclusion, and to favorable results. If you’re not a fan on Connell’s voice, these moments might be polarizing. If you find appreciation for it, they’re enveloping.
But while Connell’s debut album Calumet Queen came with a distinct sound that complimented the qualities of her voice and songs with dark hues and intrepid tones, My Own Company struggles to make any kind of statement musically, and instead sits down in a rather conventional “indie Americana” sound that renders some moments indistinct. Even though Kiely Connell’s songs and voice hit more often than not, there’s something missing from this album overall.
You couple this with how the publicity rollout for what was supposed to be a big breakout album felt like an afterthought, and My Own Company is one of those releases that feels overlooked in 2024. Similar to Stephanie Lambring’s Hypocrite, these albums struggled to find a home, despite some stellar songwriting and vocal performances. The only song that’s anywhere near country on My Own Company is the title track. In fact, Connell’s Calumet Queen seems to be the record people are still listening to.
Nonetheless, My Own Company includes some incredible moments that don’t deserve to be overlooked, namely “You Won’t Notice It,” “My Own Company,” “Restless Bones,” and “Damn Hands.” Kiely Connell is still Kiely Connell, and she’s an incredible singer and songwriter worthy of greater attention.
8/10
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December 27, 2024 @ 3:42 pm
Perhaps now that Ms. Connells’ talent has been unearthed,she will join the list of star distaff Country acts.
December 27, 2024 @ 3:49 pm
Just gave it a spin and enjoyed it. Will certainly listen more in next few weeks. Appreciate the balanced review. Cheers to 2025, Trigger!
December 27, 2024 @ 9:34 pm
Local talent. Her last album was great. This one is even better.
December 28, 2024 @ 4:41 am
Emptying the chamber? These will get me through January.
December 28, 2024 @ 8:30 am
I am trying to review as many albums as I can before we tie a ribbon on 2024.
December 28, 2024 @ 6:52 am
She has a great distinctive voice! am liking it!
December 28, 2024 @ 1:01 pm
Man her first album is one of the best albums of this decade. There’s such a variety in her songwriting on it, and her singing is amazing . Around the time it came out I was going through some really hellish grief over the death of an old bandmate, and Calumet Queen was one of about three albums that I just listened to over and over and over again for comfort. She has the song Disappear which is obviously about death but everything else on the album was just great for taking my feelings elsewhere.
I’m not crazy about the production on this second one either. I think she gets buried underneath some washy guitar that just isn’t up to the task of highlighting her voice. But people who are into the Indie Americana thing sometimes like that. I definitely went out and bought it immediately and I’m glad I have it on physical media now.
December 28, 2024 @ 7:56 pm
I count “Through to You” as one of my favorite songs released all year.
December 29, 2024 @ 5:11 pm
I like her. Too commercial for my taste. Her voice is quite arrogant and empowering.
January 1, 2025 @ 9:32 am
…if this album and ms. connell weren’t worth highlighting then i don’t know what would be. some album, some singer. 2025 is starting on some great notes.
January 2, 2025 @ 3:37 pm
On Trigger’s recommendation and those of others in this comment section, I immediately started listing to Calumet Queen. I must thank you all as it’s an excellent and beautiful album. I really dig it. I have since started listening to this new album from Kiely Connell and, well, I kind of hate it. It’s as if someone got a hold of her and convinced her that she needs to sound exactly like Brandi Carlisle. Problem is, if I want to listen to Brandi Carlisle, I’m going to listen to Brandi and not some copycat. This new album is a real disappointment. Kiely was better being herself and not copying anyone. Get back to your roots, please, and don;t listen to the professional producers who seek to change you.
January 8, 2025 @ 3:48 pm
“Anesthesia” is another stand out song on this album. How can something be missing if it takes a rather bleak perspective? Love it.