Music review: Katey Sagal — ‘Covered’
Rhodes
Associated Press
Katey Sagal, a cast member in 鈥淪ons of Anarchy,鈥� poses for a recent portrait. The Golden Globe Award-winning actress just released her third solo album titled, 鈥淐overed.鈥�
Katey Sagal is a Golden Globe Award-winning actress who also knows a thing or two about music. Known for her television roles on the comedy 鈥淢arried鈥ith Children,鈥� animated series 鈥淔uturama鈥� and the highest-rated program in the history of FX 鈥淪ons of Anarchy,鈥� the 59-year-old actress offers up a 10-track collection of cover songs on the aptly titled 鈥淐overed.鈥�
鈥淐overed鈥� is Sagal鈥檚 third solo album and follows up 2004鈥檚 鈥淩oom.鈥� This time around, Sagal delivers her own interpretations of arrangements from some of her favorite songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, Ryan Adams, Jackson Browne and Gillian Welch. It鈥檚 hard to go wrong with quality material by this group of talented writers, yet Sagal manages to hit a few bumps along the way.
The first single, Tom Petty鈥檚 鈥淔ree Fallin鈥�,鈥� sets a sour note as it comes across as a mediocre karaoke offering. Sagal quickly recovers on a heartfelt version of 鈥淔or a Dancer,鈥� originally from Browne鈥檚 album 鈥淟ate for the Sky鈥� from 1974.
Sagal is clearly not just another actor hoping to become a singer since paying her dues early in her career as a backing vocalist for acts like Bette Midler, Etta James, Olivia Newton-John and Tanya Tucker.
With the proper songs, Sagal sounds engagingly passionate and sophisticated.
Bright spots include a duet with Browne on an emotional version of Steve Earle鈥檚 鈥淕oodbye鈥� and a tender interpretation of Ron Sexsmith鈥檚 鈥淪ecret Heart.鈥�
Sagal鈥檚 best performance is witnessed on the album鈥檚 lone original song.
Written by 鈥淪ons of Anarchy鈥� musical director Bob Thiele and songwriter Tonio K., 鈥淔ollow the River鈥� proves to be a perfect match for Sagal鈥檚 soulful voice.
Unfortunately, selections like Ray LaMontagne鈥檚 鈥淩oses & Cigarettes,鈥� Welch鈥檚 鈥淥rphan Girl鈥� and Adams鈥� 鈥淚 Love You But Don鈥檛 Know What to Say,鈥� prove to be uninspired offerings.
Sagal clearly proves that she can dazzle when given the right songs. Hopefully, she鈥檒l abandoned the need to stop covering songs from other artists and will turn her attention to writing and performing her own arrangements like she did on her 1994 debut release.