Krystal Keith “Whiskey and Lace” Album Review

No album titular is more synoptic than Keith's "Whiskey and Lace."  If "whiskey" is representative of the more party-hearty personal of Keith, you will definitely hear her inebriating in some of the catchiest light-hearted boilers here.  However, just like Jekyll and Hyde, there's also a "lace" clad side to Keith; one that is soft, sentimental and thoughtful.  And her tender side brims most poignantly through the way she croons a ballad.  Thus, in many ways, Keith doesn't fall far away from the tree.  Just like her superstar dad Toby Keith who has been known to rule the radio airwaves with his big-boned masculine blusters such as "I Love This Bar," "Who's Your Daddy?" and "Beer for My Horses," Keith also has a  teddy bear side when he deals with the affairs of the heart with "Does that Blue Moon Ever Shine on You?" and "We Were in Love."  The younger Keith first came to attention when she was featured as a duet partner on her dad's single "Mockingbird."  Forbidden from pursuing a career in music until she finished college, Krystal Keith has kept her oath.  With a Communications degree under her belt and now married, "Whiskey and Lace" is her debut record released under her dad's label.

While off springs of many superstars are keen to deviate as far away from their parents' spotlights, this is not so with Krystal Keith.  Keith Senior not only gets to co-produce the album with Mark Wright (Gary Allan & Lee Ann Womack), he also gets a go of co-writing 4 out of the 10 cuts here.  The softer "lace-y" side of Krystal Keith has had received a bigger push when the record's sophomore single "Daddy Dance with Me" has gone viral.  Written as a surprise for her dad, Krystal Keith has had a new corner of daddy-daughter songs since Bob Carlisle's "Butterfly Kisses."  Oozing with lots of "Chicken Soup for the Soul" moments, it's a challenge not to fight back the tears as Keith says thank you to her dad: "Daddy don't let go/I want you to know I'll always need your love/Today I became his wife/But I'll be your baby girl for life."   Toby Keith shows us to sing, albeit in a more supportive role rather than a full-fledged duet, with his daughter on "Beautiful Weakness."  Sculpted with lots of inspirational lines, this well crafted big ballad coming from the pens of Mica Roberts and Sonya Rutledge, seriously deserves to a big hit.

"Cabo San Lucas," written by Eddy Raven and Toby Keith, is easily the best among the quartet of songs contributed by daddy Keith.  However, if "Cabo San Lucas" sounds familiar, it's because it first made its appearance on Toby's 2008 "That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy" album.  Despite its flamenco guitar breezing through its beautiful Spanish tilt, "Cabo San Lucas" falters in the sense that it doesn't really have much of a story that goes with song. As far as her "whiskey" side is concerned, "Him and His Tattoo" finds Krystal finding her own voice on a track that zings with youthfulness about the folly of a spring break gone wrong.  The bluesy rock "Can't Buy Me Money," turns on the Beatles' signature tune "Can't Buy Me Love' on its head with a realistic portrayal of a loving family struggling to make ends meet.

The late Dennis Linde who has been known for penning songs for Elvis Presley, Alan Jackson and Dixie Chicks among others is represented here with "Muddy Waters."  Though first recorded by Brother Phelps, "Muddy Waters" has all the quirkiness of Linde with its swampy chord changes and its intriguing narrative about the rants of a frustrated wife.  Keith belies her age and does a superb job in doing justice to this Linde classic.  Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift & Shania Twain) gets one shot at producing "Get Your Redneck On."  Considering Chapman's repertoire, "Get Your Redneck On" is ironically the most country track here imbued with some rustic underpinnings that tethers to bluegrass.  "Whiskey and Lace" is by no means a perfect debut, but it shows promise.  Neither too uptight to be fun, engaging and catchy, yet when Keith slows down to deal with the deeper issues of life, this is where she finds her calling.

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