Give credit where due, against tremendous odds, Lisa Marie Presley appears to have made herself a model lifestyle. An occassional marriage to Michael Jackson sure, but most, a Scientology flirtation alright. But mostly, she has kept her end of the bargain and taken thefinancial, and fame gifts her father left her and is living a good life.
Except musically.
Musically, Lisa Marie is the absolute pits and her first album in 5 years appears to be no exception.
To be released in May, this is what the King's daughter said: "Just over two years ago, I went to England to attempt to write another record after finding myself in a considerably disheartened and uninspired state creatively. Over an eight-month period, I wrote 30 songs. I was fortunate to be able to write with some incredible artists and singers such as Richard Hawley (from Pulp), Ed Harcourt, Sacha Skarbek and Fran Healy (from Travis), to name a few. Nothing was planned or contrived in any way and out of it came a very organic record that was always inside of me and that I am incredibly proud of. It was a dream come true and such an honor when T Bone liked the songs and produced and played on the record.”
Fran Healey and Richard Hawley.
Yup.
But as crappy as that sounds, how does this description grab ya? "from the ominous, swampy vibe of lead single “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” and “Sticks And Stones” to “Soften The Blows” and the achingly beautiful title track, which evoke the ease of an impromptu back porch jam session.
Bad enough? Let the most boring producer on earth T-Bone Burnett pick up the story: "When songs from Lisa Marie Presley showed up at my door, I was curious. I wondered what the daughter of an American revolutionary music artist had to say. What I heard was honest, raw, unaffected and soulful. I thought her father would be proud of her. The more I listened to the songs, the deeper an artist I found her to be. Listening beyond the media static, Lisa Marie Presley is a Southern American folk music artist of great value."
T-Bone Burnett is a groupie.
Lisa Marie is 44 years old -perhaps it is time to put our hopes in her daughter.