Kris McKay – Things That Show

Kris McKay, a veteran of the Austin music scene as a vocalist with the Wild Seeds and on her own, is back after a six-year absence with Things That Show. Her singing chops are unquestioned — McKay’s textured vocals, less twangy than other Austinites such as Kelly Willis (who sings harmonies on a track), are strong throughout. But the album features more than her voice: This is a showcase for songwriters, including McKay herself.

The recording opens with a swaying, acoustic take on the early-’80s English Beat hit “Sooner or Later” and also includes Joan Armatrading’s “Weakness in Me” from the same period. Elsewhere, the disc features McKay’s keen ear for other writers’ craft, with such covers as Jay (Son Volt) Farrar’s “Tear Stained Eye”, Hub Moore’s title track, Matthew Sweet’s “How Cool” and Jo Carol Pierce’s “Loose Diamonds”. There’s even a non-cover cover, of former Wild Seeds frontman Michael Hall’s “Baby You Scare Me”, on which McKay originally sang lead on Hall’s 1992 Love Is Murder release. It’s the best song here, and surpasses the version on Hall’s album.

McKay’s own songs — “Testing” (co-written with Patti Keating), “Right Now”, “Swinging Door” and others — don’t quite stick in mind with the insistency of others’ material. With most of the covers stacked towards the front end and McKay’s own songs programmed at the end (except for the tender, touching closer, “Loose Diamonds”), by the time the CD ends, it’s hard to remember the earlier highlights.

McKay’s still learning her songwriting craft; her originals aren’t bad, but they pale in comparison to their context. Still, one would expect she has what it takes to improve as a songwriter, since she clearly knows a great song when she sings one.