[.ca] Shelter

From Amazon.com:
Singer Maria McKee, a small woman with a gigantic voice, has always had trouble finding the appropriate backup band and production style--on Lone Justice's second and final album, E Street Band guitarist Little Steven tries to turn her into the female Bruce Springsteen. He's partially successful: on the opening song, "I Found Love," McKee belts like a countrified Aretha Franklin, and each of her five successive "yeahs" sounds more explosive than the next. But while McKee's voice is timeless, the tinkly keyboards and thudding electronic drums make Shelter an '80s period piece. (Guitarist Shane Fontayne, who joined Lone Justice for this album, later performed in Springsteen's post-E Street backup band.) --Steve Knopper

Not to be passed by...:
Let's get it out of the way - this is not Maria McKee's best record. However, it is far from being a bad record. Some of her most accessible songs and uplifting work is here. I think Maria must've had her eyes on the pop prize, and in 1986, that meant dressing up your sound in whacking drum machines and icy synthesizers. Yet, if you're willing to cut through that mess, there's some very rewarding stuff here. Her producers replaced the country-rock of the first Lone Justice record entirely. The rock that results, however, results in letting her voice and lyrical ambitions reach to heights not possible in the old milieu. Cases in point: "The Gift" and "Inspiration" revel in their reaches for a higher plane. On "Inspiration" especially, Maria's voice is the vehicle that's going to take you there. Her career is full of vocal high points, but this one stands out. She stretches her voice to reach over the rock wall and succeeds mightily. It's like Tina Turner battling Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" on "River Deep Mountain High-" the artistic tension between the clash of styles results in amazing work. Maria's songwriting stays on point, as well. "Shelter" should have been the hit that made her rich, but...the same thing that's wrong with radio today was the same thing that was wrong back then. "I Found Love" is a stomper, and "Dixie Storms" closes the record sweetly. The "Maria McKee" record is probably the best distillation of her sound, but you won't go wrong with this one. Get it now before it goes out of print.

It's Been So Long...:
I first owned this album on tape in the mid-80's. After hearing Lone Justice's debut album, with all its eccentric brilliance, I purchased "Shelter" only to discover a more polished and pop sound that still remained rugged and edgy--based primarily on Maria McKee's voice. Then, somehow, somewhere, I lost the tape. Two days ago, I ran across the CD at a reduced price. I couldn't resist. Popping the disc into my car, I was taken back fifteen years ago to the excitement and emotion of my college years. This ranks as one of my all-time favorite albums. Even songs that initially held no hold over me ("Dixie Storms" and "Reflected"), now draw something unexpected from my heart. The lyrics find a balance between preachy and obtuse; the instruments range from throaty to ethereal; and the vocals...well, let's face it, this little diva's voice takes this music to a whole new level. It's been so long since I laid ears to this stuff that I almost forgot how deep it could burrow. Yet, after a decade and a half, it's still there, simmering beneath the surface. For me, to listen to it again is an opportunity to let many feelings bubble over. This is music in which to find "Shelter." And I can't resist.

Good Album:
Released in the late 80's, "Shelter" was the phoenix of the burgeoning LA punkabilly scene--Lone Justice' sprawling ambition jump-started the 'neo-traditionalist' movement in Nashville, giving rise to stars such as Dwight Yoakam and Patty Loveless. This CD, featuring the formidible pipes of lead vocalist Maria McKee, contains three terrific tunes: "I Found Love," "Shelter," and "Don't Toss Us Away," (later a hit single for Loveless.) The rest of the CD is a period piece, but the best, despite it's dated, lush, synthesizer-laden arrangements, is bold and continues to influence.

Doesn't sound like the debut because it's a different band,:
And that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Someone decided to ditch the original members of Lone Justice after their killer 1985 debut and start all over with Maria McKee alone. Like I said, having Maria around is never a bad thing, but I wonder why they decided to issue this album as Lone Justice? This is really the first Maria McKee solo album and in that vein it's just fine. Gone are the inspired country-punks of 1985, and believe me, they'll be missed, but this album stand up pretty well all on it's own. High points are I Found Love, the title track, Reflected (On My Side), Wheels and Dixie Storms, but there isn't a bad apple in this bunch.

A letdown:
The first Lone Justice album was a masterpiece. It was consistent and cohesive. But for a few songs, this one is, in contrast, an incoherent letdown. I'll never forget seeing this band perform in person or on SNL during the "Shelter" tour. They were distilled energy, absolutely brilliant, and Maria McKee prowling the stage or bouncing in place was ready to devour the world and the audience. "I Found Love", the first track on this CD, was the highlight of their shows. Despite the overproduction here, it remains a great song, and Lone Justice was one of the musical high points of the 80's. Maybe that doesn't say much, but I'd put the early Lone Justice in the same class as the early Pretenders or Pixies, without the commercial success of the former or the fan base of the latter. I thought one reviewer's comparison with Patti Smith's band was apt - Maria McKee shook up rock in the mid-80's for me about as much as Patti Smith did in the mid-70's. Of course, Maria McKee turned out not to be a rocker at heart, and Lone Justice was soon gone. You can hear them fading on this CD. At the time, I didn't enjoy this recording much, with its departure from the band's original fiery sound, though "Shelter" and "Dixie Storms" seemed like good enough ballads. With the passage of time, listening to it today, it seems more consistently interesting, with moments of true pleasure in many songs, though none beyond the first are much more or much less than mediocre lyrically or musically. Bottom line - this doesn't begin to measure up to the first Lone Justice album, but then Lone Justice fans like me might think that Maria McKee's later, quieter work doesn't measure up to this CD. It's a middle ground or a transition point. The reviewers below mention many good points about listening to "Shelter" in the 21st century. The production makes it sound dated, unlike their debut album. The quality of the songs is inconsistent. This was a stunning band live, but this recording didn't come close to capturing their sound. Still, underneath, there is Maria McKee's voice and passion. She is in fine voice here, and even if this was a poor Lone Justice album, hearing her remains worthwhile. If you're a fan of her later work, this may be a good addition to your collection. If you know the band only from the first Lone Justice album, this may be a disappointment. Then again, for $7 you really can't lose.

• I Found Love
• Shelter
• Reflected (On My Side)
• Beacon
• Wheels
• Belfry
• Dreams Come True (Stand up and Take It)
• Gift
• Inspiration
• Dixie Storms