Album Review
Kelsey Waldon's Fixin It Up
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November 10th 2012
By Nathanael Hall - Radio Nation
nhall@radionation.ca
Kelsey Waldon, the incredible lyricist hailing from Paducah, Kentucky, has released her newest album "Fixin' It Up". The astounding anticipation that powered through Nashville surrounding her new LP was seemingly impossible to live up to, yet the album speaks for itself showcasing a world of previously undisplayed lyrical and instrumental talent for Waldon. Starting off with "Who Do You Love?", Waldon's new release brings about a sense of association with the narrator that draws the listener in and keeps them swooning with the poetry through the entirety of the album.
The opening song seemingly ends on a fast and powerful note until Waldon brings the melody down into a final, slow swoop, swinging the heart into a low drop and bringing it back up again.
The title track slides into the room next, painting a portrait of the songwriter's pilgrimage with genuine passion that captures the theme of the album, as well as the soul of true Americana. Waldon's lyrical influences shine through the poetry of each line, the prowess of Townes Van Zandt coupled with the soul of Bobby Dylan displayed in a powerful manner, an organic vibe of unadulterated vehemency dripping from each note.
"Try and Pretend" is a delicate track laid upon the listener with the unrivalled intimacy that only a true artist such as Waldon is able to demonstrate. The inspirational zeal of the tune portrays a partiality to denial that is experienced 
in an innumerable variety of situations, making the song universal in its ability to capture one's heart.
Waldon slowly croons through the chorus of the next track, "Love Me If You Can", in a manner reminiscent of Kris Kristofferson in it's unrepentant self-portrait. The first verse ironically reads "...I don't mind if you don't sing along", the reciprocal of what one finds themselves doing upon a second listen of the song, fighting the urge to play it again as the song winds down and drifts off so gracefully.
"Dreaming Woman" pours in, much the same way "Love Me If You Can" fades out, in a poetically soft motion, before belting into an invigorating dimension of powerfully raw emotion. "Dreaming Woman" takes us to the 
beginnings of a young girl one instantly empathizes with as Waldon probes through the very core of our human emotion and plays our heartstrings as if they lay upon her guitar. If ever there were an incarnation of Emmy Lou Harris, Waldon demonstrates through this ballad that she is the sole candidate, driving her audience through a range of emotions- inspiration and wonder being the most distinguishable.
Each song on "Fixin' It Up" can easily be played again and again with an impressively low chance of redundancy, but this song stands alone in it's vigorous capability of growing to become an anthem of hope for all.
The album ends on a strong, commanding note that reverberates through "Know My Name". The final track shows the determination of the young Waldon, leaving no doubt whatsoever of the positive outlook her future holds. Waldon's career stands before her, and with this album it is sure to shoot through the skies and explode with a vigour unseen in a despairingly long while.
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