“With songs inspired by their dreams, Pete and Maura
Kennedy meld ’60s rock, folk, and country into a stunning concept album that
takes the listener from the footloose frolic of not-so-long-ago into a world of
abridged civil liberties, before concluding on an upbeat note with a bracing
appeal for peace. The optimistic, go-for-it counsel of the stomping opener,
‘Breathe,’ mutates seamlessly into the frothy, sunny, power pop of ‘Speed of
Soul,’ with its energetic, chanting girl-group chorus and jaunty banjo and
mandolin lines – it’s all so 9/10. But the melancholy folk ballad ‘No Mornings’
suggests the persistence of an unsettling dream, which in turn becomes reality
with a rough-edged, Creedence-tinged country rocker, ‘Give Me Back My Country,’
that finds Maura crying out, ‘...give me back my country / and the sweet breath
of freedom from the Bill of Rights.’ Fully referencing a post-9/11 world now,
the Kennedys lay it on in ‘American Wish,’ speaking truth to power in
restrained, acoustic-driven fury and twang as Maura bemoans ‘the voice of the
people silenced by the powerful few.’ . . . Yet daybreak looms, and with it
hope, articulated so sweetly in the beautiful, if somewhat bleak, country
ballad ‘Light My Way,’ in the jubilant reconciliation of ‘In My Dreams,’ and in
the spiritual solace of the Eastern-tinged meditation ‘Kindred Spirits’ and the
ethereal instrumental coda, "Pacé.” What have dreams wrought? Some kind of
masterpiece.”
“. . . Good-natured folk-rock
melodicism and upbeat vocal delivery . . . Most of the Kennedys’ dreams are
ultimately hopeful and bright.”
“The songs themselves are a
strong bunch, with if anything a wider stylistic range than the normal Kennedys
pop-folk-psych. . . . Those trademark jangling electric twelve-strings are
definitely less in the forefront of the mix than usual, and lighter, quieter
acoustic colours of banjo, mandolin, resonator guitar and suchlike figure more
(none of which is a bad thing, of course). . . Maura takes lead vocal duty on
the majority of the songs, and I don't reckon I've heard her sing better, while
Pete's inventive instrumentation is a constant source of delight, with so much
interest in the dreamlike texturings he conjures. Another really fine album
from the Kennedys, then.”
“Joyous ’n jangling . . . All
the beloved elements of this uniquely gifted duo come to the fore from the
get-go: The assuring counsel of ‘Breathe.’ The chiming, summer-single bop of
“Speed of Soul.” Driven by Pete’s electric sitar, ‘I Found a Road’ is as catchy
and full of Maura’s playful girlishness as any love song before it. . . . In
summary, Better Dreams further evolves the grand tradition the Kennedy's
have forged throughout their long, traveling careers: Honest-to-God music made
by honest-to-God people.” – Mike Jurkovic, Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange,
“While Maura
Kennedy and Pete
Kennedy remain as tuneful as ever on these 12 new songs, a more subdued
approach seems to have been dictated by the material; most of the songs on Better
Dreams were inspired by images from Maura
and Pete’s
own dreams, and while ‘Breathe’ and ‘Speed of Soul’ find playful and upbeat
stories to tell in their after-dark reveries, much of the album deals with
weightier themes. . . While Better Dreams is a more moody and
contemplative album than the Kennedys usually offer, the spirit of the music is
still bright and passionate, and the musicianship remains top-notch. Maura
Kennedy's vocals are sweet without betraying the gravity of her themes, Pete
remains a gifted multi-instrumentalist, and the additional accompanists (most
from the Kennedys' side group the
Strangelings) offer lovely support without losing sight of the album’s
thematic focus. Better Dreams is a thoughtful album that reflects on a somber
time in American history, but it also speaks of a sincere belief in better days
and higher ideals, and it demonstrates why the Kennedys are one of the most compelling
acts on the contemporary folk scene.(3½ stars out of 5)”
“. . . as effortlessly catchy
as ever . . .”– Nick Cristiano,
“The acoustic/electric
performing, songwriting, and covering duo Maura and Pete Kennedy work their
magic again in Better Dreams. . . . Maura’s singing is restrained but direct
and emotive. Pete’s handling of many instruments . . . is skilled and well
integrated. And what a knack for melding melody and chord changes to lyrics!”
“Maura’s sweet, reedy voice
is versatile enough to tackle a wide range of styles, from the folk-rock of the
title track to the gentle romanticism of ‘No Mornings,’ and Pete is a
formidable multi-instrumentalist, playing assorted guitars, sitar, banjo,
mandolin, bass, keyboards and drums with equal aplomb.”– Sarah McQuaid, Evening Herald,
“The sturdy kind of hard
working, always growing act that record companies used to love when they were
in the music business because the act could be counted on to log the miles and
spread the smiles . . . Contemporary folkies that know how to avoid clichés and
set standards . . .”
“. . . this record can really
grow on you, with jingle-jangle guitar arrangements that evoke Roger McGuinn .
. . (There is a country vibe on several tracks, but this is not exactly
straightahead country or roots music). . . . A little musical time travel can
shed some light on the present, and the Kennedys have an agreeable peace train
ride waiting for the willing.”
“No matter what the situation,
Maura Kennedy’s sweetly parsed vocals have always
made this folk duo’s music sound honey-dipped. . . . Husband Pete provides much
of the instrumental backing, with his expertly picked 12-string Rickenbacker,
resonator slide guitar, electric sitar, mandolin, and banjo accompanying his
sparsely added bass and drums. This comfortable musical setting allows Maura to
ponder deep mysteries in ‘Speed of Soul,’ ‘Kindred Spirits’ (inspired by Joseph Campbell), and ‘Breathe,’ which confronts
the possibility of life being a birth-to-death-to-rebirth continuum. Such
metaphysical questions are offset by the literal, political rage of ‘Give Me
Back My Country’ and the defiantly hopeful ‘American Wish,’ where the dreams
are of a better world here and now. But even in their anger and frustration,
the Kennedys smooth the rough edges, adhering to the dream-like twilight their
music evokes.”
“Better Dreams marks the
Kennedys’ 10th CD and their first CD of all original material in seven years.
It’s well worth the wait. This duo has had a long career of crafting songs that
deal with freedom, dreams, and the open road using a blend of acoustic,
folk-rock, country, gospel and pop. They’ve not only managed to carve out
their own unique sound, but they seem to have touched on a new populist
consciousness that is just beginning to manifest itself in the political world
. . . Better Dreams has a subtle political tinge. Two songs, ‘Give Me
Back My Country’ and ‘American Wish’ challenge the steady erosion of civil
liberties in a post 9/11 world. . . . The opening cut ‘Breathe’ is a
captivating song that underscores the importance of change . . . ‘Sago Mine,’
written about the 2006 mining disaster in West VA, is downright chilling and
evokes the best of the mining songs of the sixties…’Bells of Rhymney’…’Springhill
Mining Disaster’…’Blind Fiddler.’ Lest I leave you with the impression that the
Kennedys are simply a band with social justice as a theme, check out ‘Speed of
Soul.’ It’s a catchy little ditty that will have you dancing a jig…in the
privacy of your office of course. (4 stars out of 5)”
“There are dark mountain
laments, jug band bluegrass, psychedlic loopiness, exotic Indian touches and
unabashed folk-pop. . . . [A]ll songs are wonderfully crafted folk-rock opuses
recalling the best of The Byrds and Fairport Convention. It all clicks, thanks
to the album’s propensity for melody and catchy hooks . . . The Kennedys once
again have crafted a batch of folk-rock that’s organic, charming and melodic.”
“Better Dreams has an
exuberant aura throughout; exquisite melodies that beg repeated listens are
skillfully and attentively played out, effortlessly supporting the pensive,
intelligent lyrics that both engage and inspire. . . . Sparkling folk-tinged
pop songs with memorable, catchy choruses . . . Who needs their own sweet
dreams when you can join The Kennedys in their much more exquisite nocturnal
musings!”
“. . . Varied and innovative
. . . Music that is warm, welcoming and easy to relax to.”
For more information on The
Kennedys, to arrange an interview, or to request a review/airplay CD and/or
jpgs, please contact: Alan Edwards / Appleseed Recordings / (e-mail) JoeVinyl@aol.com / 215-628-4562 /