Album Review: Lori McKenna – ‘Unglamorous’

By Jeff Swindoll Aug 14, 2007, 15:19 GMT

Fans of Faith Hill and Tim McGraw will flock to Massachusetts singer-songwriter Lori McKenna\'s fifth album for obvious reasons--McGraw coproduced it with his longtime shaper Byron Gallimore, Hill recorded three of McKenna\'s songs for Fireflies, and McKenna snared a guest slot on McGraw and Hill\'s 2007 tour. But longtime McKenna followers may approach this--her first album recorded expressly for a major label--with trepidation, fearing the commercial push has tamed the ...more

Lori McKenna is a folk singer from Massachusetts who rose to fame by writing songs that Faith Hill included on her 2005 release ‘Fireflies.’

‘Unglamorous’ marks her return to recording after gaining some fame from Hill, an appearance on Oprah, and signing up with Warner Brothers (on whose label this title appears).

I was expecting something a bit more “folk” but McKenna rewarded me with a fine selection of songs that sounded more country than folksy.  McKenna’s songs have a strong autobiographical quality. 

In “Unglamorous” she sings (and writes I suppose) of the home life of raising her five children and the rewards and tribulations that go along with that.  “Drinkin’ Problem” is about realizing that drinking is a problem but who is it a bigger problem for – the drinker or those around her? 

“Your Next Lover” is about sizing up who your partner will be running to next (and I hope that this song is not particularly autobiographical).  “Leaving This Life” is about the death of McKenna’s mother, but is about mothers everywhere and the loss of them.  It is really quite moving. 

The album is full of fine songwriting, singing, and when you know a little about McKenna you get the impression that each song has a little piece of her in it.  We’re glad to get to know her and this fine album should mean that we’ll be hearing a lot more of her in the future. 

‘Unglamorous’ is now available at Amazon. Visit the music database for more information.