My ears have been blessed by the sweet songs of a Young Girl Who Grew Up With The Country. Kelsey Piper Waldon has released her new CD Titled ANCHOR IN THE VALLEY. It couldn't have come any sooner, as I just couldn't wait to hear what she had been cooking up in the studio.

I discovered Kelsey back in 2008 and have been a dedicated fan ever since then. I first heard her on the Myspace and was instantly taken by her smooth voice and enchanting song writing. There is a certain honesty and purity that pours out of her that I just can't get enough of.

The follow up to her first CD -SONGS FROM A BASEMENT (which she recorded in her very own basement) is her self titled ANCHOR IN THE VALLEY. This venture took her all the way to Nashville to record with PHIL HARRIS at BATTLE RIDGE STUDIOS. With a full back up band of professionals, this collection of songs is a great representation the progress Kelsey is making in her career as a musician, and all the hard work that she is putting into making her dreams come true.

In the opening bars of the first song IT TAKES THREE WORDS I instantly got the feeling that this was going to be a great time to kick back and enjoy the mellow side of life. It was like the warm sun on my face, mixed with a soft sea breeze and it made me feel like I should be on a boat sailing with a freshly squeezed margarita.

Although the lyrics talk about a heartbreak, the song is obviously about unconditional love, and that's just something we all need a little more of in this world. Other highlights for my ears in this song are the Lap Steel (MIKE WITCHER), and the background vocals (JULIE LEE and JEN DUKE) which by the way are amazing throughout the entire CD.

The next song is a sequel to a song from the first CD - SONGS FROM A BASEMENT - appropriately titled BALLAD FOR MODERN TIMES PT.2.

This song has a great tempo to swing around the dance floor with that special someone in your life to. The lyrics to this song are quite amazing, conveying the message that here we are in this modern world together, and it's hard, but at least we have each other.

As usual Kelsey comes hard with hope in a place that seems to be ridden with tragedy and pain.

“But darlin we're all afraid of the world and what it's made of, but if you listen close enough you'll know what's true and what is made up, place your hands on solid ground, lay your head down honey and drown it out, don't worry about it now”.

I really feel like this song could help a lot of people in this world that struggle with the bad things that happen everyday, to realize, that despite the amputations, it will be all right. The vibrato and the tone on the electric guitar (ANDREW SOVINE) give the song a mellow yellow feel that I enjoy very much.

Next is the love song about a young man with dark hair and a heart of gold. WAITIN' ON MY MAN, not to be confused with Waiting On My Man- by The Velvet Underground, it is a very heartfelt song about the longing we have when someone dear is away from us.

On this track we get to enjoy the fiddling of CLAYTON CAMPBELL and the tricky use of brushes and cymbals underneath rim shots by ROB EDWARDS. This track is very warm and a great song for a long distance dedication.

A YOUNG GIRL (WHO GREW UP WITH THE COUNTRY) gives us an insight into what goes on in the mind of a young beautiful girl that knows there's more to life than aesthetics, like “Skipping On the banks of the Ohio” and “ Living her life so she hasn't anything to hide”.

This song might be autobiographical, but I might be wrong. It just sounds like it might be. I really like the way the guitars work together in this song, and I also like the solo which has graceful swells and a tone, that is to say the least, thick and and glowing . The song gives me images of a life free from strife and the liberties of an awakened mind.

MISSISSIPPI RIDE is a song that was also on ANCHOR IN THE VALLEY'S first CD. The arrangement and tempo are a little different on this CD than the first, but still maintain the magic and purity of the song.

This song is an homage to the wonderful place we all call home. A safe and warm place where things are familiar, and all eyes are friendly, it's a place where we can lay back for a second just to appreciate life.

I really like the guitar's vibrato again, and the drum's slippery brush and cymbal work in this song because they seem to do a subtle waltz around the melody and lyrics. This one of my favorite songs to listen to on the road.

I must admit that one of my favorite things about Kelsey's music is that she brings a force of hope and love, and she calls out to everyone to be aware of the good side of life.

Out of all her songs, none does this quite as well as the appropriately tittled THE LIGHT. When I first heard this song I thought it was quite a God send. The music and lyrics are simple, strait forward , and effective.

In this version of the song, she has added some piano and electric guitar with her acoustic which I think was a really nice touch. This is one of my favorite tracks ever, I will always have this one in my heart. It is very intimate and honest and something everyone should hear.

The great music just keeps coming. YOU DON'T OWE ME, to me, is a song about lost love and the difficulty of being mature enough to let things go, while remaining true to yourself.

The instrumentation on this track is haunting. It sounds like they took out the bow on the upright bass ( MICHAEL DUFRESNE) and let it peek out through waves of background oooos and ahhhhs. There is a solo on the Fender Rhodes, and The Lap Steel is also featured, only adding to the richness of this songs hypnotic radiance.

The song ends abruptly as many wonderful things in life do. I think in this song Kelsey lets us know that it's best to remember why we love people instead of why we miss them. and that the love you give does not have to be repaid if it's real.

A slow walts for those that love the country life, complete with banjo (CASEY CAMPBELL) and fiddles is what you get next. MISS WHAT I'VE KNOWN makes me feel like calling up my family and having a good old get together. This is a great song to grab your partner to and have one of those eye to eye, heart to heart dances. One thing I will never forget is that KELSEY is rooted in country music and this song proves it.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE(IN LOVING ME)    has a wonderful vocal arrangement. I think this song is one for KELSEY that could reach out to a huge demographic of people. It has just enough rock, classic country, folk, and indie influences to reach fans from each of these genres. There are some good breaks in this song and plenty of space for all the instruments to breathe and shine. It is definitely a radio hit.

The final track is my favorite. Why? Because when I hear it I feel like I'm at church and I really like church. All of you out there that rediscovered folk music when Oh Brother Where Art Though came out, and had to go buy the soundtrack because the music was so awesome, will love MY EYES ARE OPEN, NOW I SEE.

This song comes on strong with sunshine, peace, and redemption. “Solid as rock.”, “Steady as an anchor.” “Now my eyes are open.”, “ Now I have no sorrow with the devil at my feet.” are just a few of the great lyrics in this song. I like the references to old church songs and the name of her band. It's good to know that songs like this are out there and are still being written. It's good to know that shining lights like this exist.

The music of ANCHOR IN THE VALLEY gives me comfort when the weight of the world tries to crush me. As I go through my day these songs stick with me and I constantly find myself singing them out loud. I think that Kelsey has a great talent for song writing, one that is timeless, one that I'm so happy to have discovered, and on this CD she has a group of very talented musicians backing her up with a solid performance.

Below are links to experience some samples of what KELSEY does and to purchase her CD for only 10$. I believe that with time Kelsey will be a very successful entertainer and a great influence on many people, so give her a listen and be blessed.