Mixing Broadway jazz and sly lyrics in her unique style, Nellie McKay's third album is smoothly entertaining. Obligatory Villagers is a short, but sweet, collection of lounge vibes and showtunes that feature's McKay's quick, cynical lyrics sung through her deceptively sweet narrative. On the surface, it's wonderful evening music, but she takes it to another level with her clever stories.
Within the swinging opening of "Mother of Pearl", McKay both injects the humor and bite of her lyrics, deriding feminists in true style. "Oversure" expands into a soaring musical sound with a quick piano/vocal combo. "Identity Theft" uses a 70's vibe to joke and express concern over the recent crime phenomenon. "Politan" is a sexy lounge groove, while "Testify" is a catchy, tongue-in-cheek anthem, and "Zombie" is a jazzed-out throwback ode to a monster dance.
Nellie McKay's strength of making elaborate tunes feel easy and natural shines on Obligatory Villagers. The mainstream effect of revisiting an old-school sound gets twisted in McKay's lyrics, which she rolls out at every speed, and with a tone that no one's gone after before. It's entertaining on many levels.
