… expressing a variety of textures and styles that flow from her inviting and silky vocal presentation …the whole album is filled with good songs, memorable hooks, and stories worth the telling,
I’m Not Leaving
Produced by Dave Pomeroy & Cindy Kalmenson
Cindy Kalmenson,
I’m Not Leaving
(Big Gack, 2008)
Purchase I’m Not Leaving
CDs $15.00 (includes shipping)
Listen to Sample Tracks
Living 80 Proof
Rub Me Right
I’m Not Leaving
Reviews
Cindy moved to Nashville in 1996 to hone her songwriting skills, which did her proud. Winning a couple of prestigious songwriting contests, Cindy continues to bring it all home on her recordings. I’m Not Leaving, her third CD, also takes advantage of some of the best musicians that Nashville has to offer, including Pat Bergeson on guitar; Rob Ickes, dobro; Rick Lonow, drums; Kenny Vaughn, electric guitar; and Jon Randall and Kimberly Dahme on harmony vocals. Produced by herself and bass player/ producer Dave Pomeroy, she’s off to a good start in expressing a variety of textures and styles that flow from her inviting and silky vocal presentation. The title track, “I’m Not Leaving,” shows a bit of humor and twist when she sings, “Oh Tennessee has been good to me, even if we’re through, I’m not leaving this town, I’m only leaving you.” Yes, Cindy has a little of that country music irony in her writing. She can also deliver a soothing ballad as in “Hold On.” Having taught high school Spanish for eight years in Los Angeles, she continues to pay homage on her CDs, this time with a cover from Juan Luis Querra, “Ójala Que Llueva Café,” and in “I Want It Back,” where you can hear that Spanish influence in the nylon- string guitar as she subtly changes the mood to lament industry’s influence on her prized rural life. She easily slides into her sultry jazzy compositions like “My Life,” “Rub Me Right” or “Your Ring” throughout the album. Listening to Cindy’s CD will draw you alternately in with the innocence or defiance in her voice that belies her conviction for the way she views life, whether it be about relationships the environment or social conscience.
Country Side Of Folk, Folk Side Of Country
FOLKWAX rating 10
Reader rating 8
Cindy Kalmenson knows how to tell stories, whether they be lighthearted or sad, serious or funny, ballad or up-tempo. She’s got a few of each on her latest release, I’m Not Leaving. “Livin’ 80 Proof” is one of the rockers, a dead-on look at a guy we’ve all sat next to at the bar or had as a friend one time or another, seen with accuracy and a glint of humor. Kalmenson paints the picture of another man’s life in “Where’s Your Hero Now.” However you feel about war or military service, her song puts a clear human face on the cost and consequences. There’s a comment on consequences to the earth on “I Want It Back,” a bluesy Country rocker with a wry twist you could just hear Reba McEntire singing in “Precious Things.” The heart of the project though may lie between two spare yet poetic songs, “Land of the Free,” which traces part of her grandfather’s life, and “My Life,” in which she considers some of the turns of her own.
As a singer, Kalmenson has a gift for storytelling and phrasing well suited to the stories she writers and she sings in a light yet powerful soprano that reminds a bit of FolkWax favorite and artist of the year Gretchen Peters. Dave Pomeroy, a top-notch bass player who has on occasion backed up Peters, produced this project and frames Kalmenson’s voice well with the help of backup musicians, including Rick Lonow, Jon Randall, and Pat Bergeson.
In a town known for its lyrical literalism, it’s rather ironic that singer-songwriter Cindy Kalmenson is releasing a new album titled I’m Not Leaving named for a breezy folk-rock track with a chorus that asserts “Tennessee’s been good to me even if were through I’m not leaving this town I’m only leaving you” since rumor has it that she’s moving to California soon. That’s a shame, since Kalmenson’s, founder and host of the long-running Girls With Guitars songwriter nights, can write a strong hook and clothe it in rich, fresh storytelling. Plus she sings with a pleasing combination of delicate sensuality and sung-spoken rock attitude that lands somewhere on the slightly softer side of Kathleen Edwards or Sheryl Crow. Her songs benefit from the touch of bass master Dave Pomeroy (who co-produced the album with her), Dobro wizard Rob Ickes and guitar talent Pat Bergeson.
Cindy Kalmenson is a singer/songwriter whose work will sound good to those who love either country music or folk music. She’s a storyteller with a knack for both genres. Country fans will laugh and dance along to “80 Proof” and “Precious Things,” while those who like folk will enjoy the family story Kalmenson tells in “Land of the Free” and the story of her own experiences she offers in “My Life.” But there’s really no need for such divisions; the whole album is filled with good songs, memorable hooks, and stories worth the telling. Top Nashville bass player Dave Pomeroy co-produced the recording with Kalmenson, and her well chosen guest list includes Ron Randall on backing vocals and John Hobbs on keyboards.
Ever since Cindy’s stunning performance of “Witness” at our very first Singer & Musician Indie Artist Showcase in Nashville six years ago, she’s had a free pass to the WL2P playlist. Following an extended break from recording, Cindy is back. As she explains, “This is the longest and hardest I’ve ever worked on a record. One year to date after my daughter Sara Eden was born, I was back in the studio recording a new set of songs.” That was 15 months prior to the CDs release. A lot of hard work, indeed, but the fruits of her efforts are 12 wonderful tracks done is her pop country style that runs from warm to edgy. The vocals, harmonies, backgrounds, and song writing are top-notch all the way. This is most definitely Cindy’s best effort to date. By the way, she has also introduced her own line of Jewelry – you can learn more about it at her Website. Follow the link to “Cindy Style Jewelry”