Women of Country - The Internet's #1 Guide to Female Country Music

Album Review

Kellie Coffey
When You Lie Next To Me
BNA Records

Kellie Coffey has made a splash with her debut single “When You Lie Next To Me” which currently sits in the top 10 on the country Billboard chart. The album itself has reached as high as 5 on the charts. This is an impressive run for a new female country act when the current musical trend is to keep them off the air. What’s all the noise about?

In all honesty, the potential is without a doubt there but the album doesn't always deliver. Kellie’s songs are pleasant tunes but nothing that sounds any different than 90 percent of the music out there right now. Her voice is a powerful tool that sounds like a strange mix of Faith Hill and Celine Dion. But at the same time it isn’t distinct enough to instantly make things stand out. In fact the single “When You Lie Next To Me” sounds so close to Faith Hill’s smash hit “Breathe” that you can’t help but feel the song was constructed intentionally to cash in on that songs success.

The album certainly has its moments and they usually are when Kellie picks up a pen and writes her own songs. She is a strong writer with a unique style. “At The End Of The Day” is an upbeat song that would make a great follow-up single. The quirky “Why Wyoming” is lightweight and fun.

The problem starts when Coffey falls back on tracks penned by the standard batch of Nashville writers. “The Simple Truth” is a decent song, the problem is it sounds like a hundred other songs you might hear on country radio at any given moment and it leaves you feeling empty. Coffey puts in a decent cover of Wynonna’s “Love’s Funny That Way” but it lacks something that was present in the original. “Fingerprints” on the other hand is a simply stunning ballad that is albums best track.

Kellie Coffey is without a doubt a talented vocalist and an even more talented songwriter. But somehow the album just doesn’t come together. While there are some great tracks to be found a number of them are instantly forgettable run-of-the-mill country tunes. Give Kellie a couple of albums to continue developing her unique sound and then you’ll have someone who can really do some damage on the charts. Until then, When You Lie Next To Me stands as a solid, if somewhat uninspired debut.

Album Review by Jeff Krasky

The WOC Rating Scale

The album stands above the rest. This is a record that every country music fan needs to have in their collection.

This album is better than the average release. A strong record with some flaws that keep it from reaching that 5 star level.

This album is an average country release. Doesn't posses qualities that make it stand out among all the other albums out there.

A weak record that lacks solid songs or good vocal performances. Sample before you buy.

This record is a bargin-bin reject that just isn't worth the time or the money. Completely misses the mark.