Local Exposure: Brownie Mary–September 02 1999

Local Exposure
CD Reviews of Area Musicians

by Jason Timoll

Brownie Mary
Naked
The Blackbird Recording Co.
Brownie Mary - Naked Brownie Mary is part of the rising trend of Pittsburgh-based bands to get to the big show in the last few years. I would imagine that they must possess that “sparkle” that makes the A&R people see dollar signs. When I listen to their new CD Naked, however, I hear a great mix of songs but nothing that would cause me to want to share it with friends. Lead singer Kelsey Barber — who is featured naked (get it, Naked) on the front cover, with just some school books that she is about to drop and an apple for the teacher covering her no-no places — has a pleading and teasing approach to her lyrics. If you like Gwen Stefani (No Doubt) you’ll most likely love this. It’s that same baby talk-sex tease thing, but with no Ska beat to make it more light and fun than irritating. In this day of women in rock music, there is more of an opportunity than ever to be strong in voice and presence without having small-minded people call you a abrasive or radical. Songs like “Say You Want Me,” tell the tale of a young mistreated woman who clearly does not have the sense or courage to leave her cheating mate. She cries, “Say you want me, say that without you it’s not the same, say you’ll never leave me and I’ll start acting my age.” Wow! I guess that I had hoped to hear more from women who are given the spotlight, singing their music to thousands of young folks.

That child-like passive/aggression is present throughout the CD and can be heard in her temptuous vocals. She teases and suggests, offers then pulls away. It’s like an erotic game of cat and mouse, if you’re up for it. In the song “Blind Obsession,” she plaintively begs, “Would you fall on your knees, if this could be your one possession.” In fairness, pop music should not be where we, as music lovers, look for relationship advice. I just hate hearing women sing about being ripped apart in abusive, dysfunctional relationships while staying with their man — perhaps for the birth of yet another song. I also realize that, hey, sex sells in America, so when in Rome … I think you can sell sex more subtly than when she says in the song, “Naked,”: “it doesn’t matter if I live or die, once you’ve seen me naked.” You can sell sex by being self confident and strong and, as a result, come across sexy — or you can just be naked on the back and front of your CD.

I will say that there were some strong points that I observed on this record. First, the songs were in many ways stronger, than the delivery. This band does have versatility. I love the their use of bag pipes in the beginning of “Say You Want Me.” They can groove like the Chili Peppers in places, and rock out with the way the Stones or Van Halen might do. I’m less sure that this is a bad record than I am that it’s not for me. I have heard great things from concert-goers about their live shows. However, since I have yet to see them perform, I would have to be neutral on that point. I think that if you can get over the plaintive seduction of some of her vocals you can find a great deal of redeeming qualities in this record. If I were designing the cover, however, I would take away the school books and the apple and just go the ‘full monty’ — targeting that segment of the music buyers, who, like their beer-drinking counterparts, would be prone to buy Budweiser because of Bud Girls on the box.