"Well, I'm not much like my generation / their music only hurts my ears," sings rising country star Kasey Chambers. If nothing else, these lyrics indicate that Chambers has a very secure sense of self-awareness. The underlying power of her debut release, "The Captain," rests on the intense realization of pure originality. A rare embodiment of crystal clear vocals and soul-shattering lyrics, Chambers is ready to turn the music of the entire world on its ears.
Honestly, she already has. With several ARIAs (the Australian equivalent of a Grammy) under her 24-year- old belt, Chambers already has the personal satisfaction of respect and a platinum album in her own country. Now, with a recent stateside release, Chambers is ready to invade America.
As the year 2000 came to a close, Chambers gathered praise from such powerful American icons as Tower Pulse and Billboard. For an Australian debut artist, she attainted the impossible: to climb her way onto Rolling Stone's "Top 50 Recordings of the Year 2000." The critical commendations are in, and they are pretty powerful in their own right. Now, "The Captain" braces itself for a ride into the hearts of American listeners.
Chambers, who will appear at Starr Hill Restaurant and Brewery on Monday, has traveled a long road to semi-stardom, and her songs proudly display both battle scars and penetrating emotional perception. Each of the tracks on "The Captain" was written or co-written by Chambers between the ages of 15 and 22. The songs are untainted images of one of the most difficult times in life.
"Cry Like a Baby" aches to proudly exhibit those youthful tears most of us would still like to display. The song is shockingly honest. Suddenly, Chambers is crossing much more than the line between country and rock; she's crossing the line between star and friend.
Serving as the title track, "The Captain" is autobiographical and relevant to almost anyone. Wistful and brimming with a childish yearning, the song embodies everything that defines the high school years. "So I slammed the doors they slammed at me / I found the place I'm meant to be / I figured out my destiny at last." Chambers provides listeners with hope while giving a very clear glimpse into her own heartrending leaps toward adulthood.
The songs on the album effortlessly become a map of Chambers' own life. With "The Flower" and "These Pines," the album reveals the melancholy loneliness of Chambers' rambling, itinerant childhood. There is a plaintive note here that strives towards a home. The lyrics insinuate themselves quickly into the minds of listeners, and there is a resting place there.
"We're All Going to Die Someday" is blatantly sassy and ensures that "My Captain" is a multi-faceted gem. While revealing the nature of her so-called life - pills, beer, sex - Chambers pokes fun at the sins and dares them to haunt her as well.
"The Captain" is an autobiography for this century, and it's quite a story. One has to wonder whether Chambers would be quite so gifted without the benefit of her childhood insights.
Raised by parents who "went bush" and wandered the Nullabor Plain, Chambers spent her childhood singing under the stars instead of sitting in a classroom. Somehow, it worked.
Changing her route and starting off on her American tour, including the Charlottesville stop at Starr Hill, Chambers is opening herself up to the public. "The Captain" has an unquestioning magnetic pull. Listeners are drawn toward the striking, passionate honesty of the young talent. The road for Chambers has been long, but the rewards are now beginning to pour in. As Chambers acknowledges, the harshness of her youth has only brought her gifts: "I wouldn't change it if I could"
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