Maria McKee cover

Maria McKee

Maria McKee · 1989

45 min · 11 tracks · country music

A blend of country, folk, and pop that captures raw emotion through haunting melodies and introspective lyrics.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    I've Forgotten What It Was in You (That Put the Need in Me) — This track opens the album with a poignant exploration of longing and desire, setting a reflective tone that resonates throughout McKee's work.
  • →
    To Miss Someone — With its heartfelt lyrics and melodic structure, this song encapsulates the theme of loss while showcasing McKee's powerful vocal delivery.
  • →
    Panic Beach — This track stands out for its vivid imagery and emotional intensity, illustrating McKee’s ability to blend personal narrative with broader themes of dislocation.
  • →
    Drinkin' in My Sunday Dress — This song contrasts carefree nostalgia with deeper undercurrents of longing, highlighting McKee's skillful storytelling and relatable songwriting.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

60 /100
Treeline
Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album features strong melodies and emotional depth, with varied pacing that enhances its introspective nature.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a slow, haunting melody that sets a reflective tone, and the first three tracks maintain a similar emotional intensity.
  • Several tracks feature layered instrumentation, with strings and acoustic guitar creating a rich backdrop for McKee's vocals.
  • The pacing shifts noticeably in the second half, with tracks like 'Breathe' and 'Drinkin' in My Sunday Dress' introducing more upbeat tempos.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 I've Forgotten What It Was in You (That Put the Need in Me) 3:41
  • 2 To Miss Someone 3:52
  • 3 Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way?) 2:56
  • 4 Nobody's Child 3:58
  • 5 Panic Beach 5:55
  • 6 Can't Pull the Wool Down (Over the Little Lamb's Eyes) 3:45
  • 7 More Than a Heart Can Hold 4:29
  • 8 This Property Is Condemned 4:44
  • 9 Breathe 4:39
  • 10 Has He Got a Friend for Me? 3:32
  • 11 Drinkin' in My Sunday Dress 3:27

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata