Songs From a Dead Man’s Couch (2006)
About the Record:
This album is great for fans of Lucinda Williams,
Suzanne Vega, Rilo Kiley,
Jolie Holland, Tom Waits
and Wilco. Songs From a Dead Man’s
Couch includes 10 of Kristy's lyrically dark originals,
and a driving train-beat version of Depeche Mode's
"Never Let Me Down Again” that “recasts
the song as a spooky hayride” (Americana UK). Krüger
fuses traditional jazz, and country, occasionally mixing
alternative Americana and electronics, forming a genre we
like to call: Ameritronica.
Upon its release, Krüger received supportive press
in the US and abroad - The Dallas Morning News described
Kristy’s sound as a “female Tom Waits,
produced by Daniel Lanois.” (Long-time
veteran, producing records for everyone from U2
to Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris,
etc.) A high compliment, considering Krüger produced
the record. She was also named Best Female Singer
in the 2006 Dallas Observer Music Awards,
Dallas’ leading entertainment weekly.
About the Title:
It is entitled "Songs from a Dead Man's Couch"
because Kristy wrote almost all her songs on her hand-me-down
couch, whose previous owner later passed away. All of his
furniture filled her living room and it just kind of weirded
her out a little bit and she always thought about him while
she was writing songs.
About the Artwork:
Songs From a Dead Man’s Couch comes with a 12 page
full-color booklet, complete with lyrics, which is laid
out like an old-timey photo album. The pictures were collected
from the Dohrer family album, which frankly just had some
beautiful, beautiful photographs that complemented the music.
The photos are 50-70 years old and some date back almost
100 years. Take a peek…
How the Album is Best Enjoyed – Just a Friendly
Suggestion:
This record is best enjoyed at *night* when you are driving
*alone* on a long stretch of highway, as that’s where
and how many of the songs began.
Press Quotes:
“Kristy was one of my favorite interviews this year.
Way more comments about her than say, our coverage of Iraq.”
-Ira Glass, Host of Public Radio International’s
This American Life
From Texas Music No. 28 (Fall 2006)
When Kristy Krüger coos, "I don't wanna see no
sunshine," on her song "Little Polyanna,"
you believe it — even when she whips out the kazoo.
With her fourth album, the dark, weird and wonderful Songs
From a Dead Man's Couch, the Dallas singer-songwriter (who
recently relocated to her old college town of Los Angeles)
has crafted the perfect soundtrack for your next absinthe
and opium binge — full of gloomy ruminations but lit
up with melodic beauty like a windowless room full of flickering
candles. Krüger's narcotic voice and gothic sensibilities
prove a perfect fit for her cover of Depeche Mode's "Never
Let Me Down Again," but it's her own songs that really
linger and haunt, from the sly but catchy opener, "Gold
Rush," to a handful of beautiful dirges that could
have really redeemed Lucinda Williams' otherwise forgettable
last album. Not since Tom Petty one-upped Roger McGuinn
with "American Girl" has a student trumped the
master as decisively as Krüger does Williams on "Talk
Radio." "I'm a real keeper if you didn't know,"
she sings on "Blackhole," and you better believe
that, too. — RICHARD SKANSE
“Her voice has a timeless quality to it and whatever
setting she places it into…like a hot hand in the
small of your back leading you to the dance floor, you are
powerless to resist.”
-David Cowling, Americana UK, the largest resource for
Americana in the UK
“She has grown into one of the most eclectic singers
in Dallas…Imagine a female Tom Waits, produced by
Daniel Lanois.”
-Thor Christensen, The Dallas Morning News
"One of the best albums of the year in a seemingly
tired singer/songwriter genre...Folks, this is not your
ordinary singer/songwriter strum and hum stuff..."
-Bruce Warren, Program Director, WXPN, NPR's World Cafe
"Kristy Kruger is one of those artists you discover
and immediately want to share with a friend. Believe it
or not - those of us who work in the business - still live
for this."
- Ed Bailey - Austin City Limits
“We can’t get enough of the dark country-folk
on Dallas singer Kristy Krüger’s new CD…Krüger
shines brightest on Dark Stranger, with its hypnotic blend
of hard-driving country and transient electronica.”
-Hunter Hauk, The Quick, a product of The Dallas Morning
News
“...A heavy-lidded Dallas Americana songstress with
the vox and gumption to remake Depeche Mode's ‘Never
Let Me Down Again’ as a bluegrass rambler.”
-Chris Gray, The Austin Chronicle
"Songs executed with a professionalism and profound
worldview that belies her youthful appearance...Far from
a typical self-released set...A startingly mature work,
full of whispered secrets and quiet affections."
- Darryl Smyers, The Dallas Observer
Testimonials:
“Kristy’s the only female singer I’ve
ever heard that reminds me of Johnny Cash.”
-John Cross, fan, Dallas, Texas
“She knows her Texana traditions, but, unlike some
acts, she's not imprisoned by them. I recommend Songs from
a Dead Man's Couch for those who are hunting for folk music
for non-folkies.”
-Gurdonark, fan, Dallas, Texas
Instrumentation and Liner Notes:
Lead and Background Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar,
Mandolin, Pedal Steel, Keyboards, Harmonica, Kazoo, Water
Glasses, Electronic Loops, etc. – Kristy
Electric Guitar – Eric Neal www.ericneal.net
Banjo and Pedal Steel – Todd Pertll
Electric Bass – Lyndah Garner
Upright Bass – Warren Kaye
Drums – Todd Unruh
Accordian – Paul Slavens www.texclectic.com
Clarinet and Bass Clarinet – Jeffrey Barnes
Background Vocals – Doug Burr www.dougburr.com
Percussion – Salim Nourallah, Rip Rowan, and Todd
Unruh
Graphic Design and Layout – Mike Harding and James
Parker
at The Creative Think Tank www.TheCreativeThinkTank.com
Creative Direction – Kristy
Photography – Erich Dohrer, and the Dohrer family
photo album
Marcel Finger Waves Styled by Marquinn Middelton, Dallas,
Texas
Recorded at Pleasantry Lane Studios in Dallas, Texas by
Salim Nourallah www.salimnourallah.com
And in Kristy’s living room by herself
Mixed by Ethan Allen in Los Angeles, California
Mastered by Bruce Barielle in New Orleans, Louisiana
Click HERE to order “Songs
From a Dead Man’s Couch.”
