Kelly Hogan – The Whistle Only Dogs Can Hear

If Kelly Hogan is remembered only as the leader of the Jody Grind, fans of contemporary pop music would be the worse for it. The short-lived Atlanta quartet’s jazzy tendencies preceded the “cocktail nation” craze by a few years, and as a result pigeonholed Hogan as a sort of diva lounge singer despite the band’s wide-ranging influences. A fatal car crash in 1992 ended the band’s career before they could make a lasting impression beyond the Southeast. But with the release of her debut solo album, Hogan continues in the tradition of her former band and expands her musical vocabulary with some well-chosen originals and covers.

As expected, the focus is on Hogan’s voice and the treatment she gives each song. The confident readings of jazzier pieces “Do Right” and “The Idea of You” stand in stark contrast to the edgy and nervous take on the Palace Brothers’ “King Me”. The full country arrangements of “Lucky Nights” and “Arms” (the only songs written solely by Hogan) seem almost overindulgent on the heels of a stark acoustic-guitar-and-vocal rendition of Vic Chesnutt’s playful “Soft Picasso”. But the centerpiece of the disc is the soulful version of Toussaint McCall’s ballad “Nothing Takes the Place of You”, where Hogan’s voice soars over the New Orleans standard.

Backing up Hogan are a capable band that, try as they might, don’t always connect with the material. Guitarist Andy Hopkins provides capable leads throughout, particularly on the rockabilly romp “Dirtclod”, but the rhythm section seems lost on occasion. Several guest musicians add variety to many of the songs, including former Jody Grind guitarist Bill Taft (who co-wrote seven songs with Hogan).