Obligatory Villagers is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Nellie McKay. It was released on September 25, 2007. Bob Dorough appears as a guest vocalist on several tracks. Many of the musicians on the album reside in the Pocono Mountains, particularly the Delaware Water Gap area. Nancy Reed, a voice teacher in Stroudsburg, sings with her on "Politan." Nellie McKay was Nancy Reed's first student.[1]
Track listing
- "Mother of Pearl"
- "Oversure"
- "Gin Rummy"
- "Livin'"
- "Identity Theft"
- "Galleon"
- "Politan"
- "Testify"
- "Zombie"
- "Doko Demo Doa" (Bonus Track in Japanese)
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Robert Christgau | (A-) |
| Pitchfork Media | (6.9/10) |
| Rolling Stone |  |
Critical response to the album was generally positive. Pitchfork Media and AllMusic both commented that the album was "difficult to understand," though they also agreed that McKay is a talented songwriter and arranger.[2][3]
Robert Christgau gave the album 3.5/5 stars.[4]
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Heatseekers | 30 |
References
- ^ Gordon, William (2015-08-14). "Nancy and Spencer Reed, jazz duo, play at Musikfest". The Morning Call.
- ^ "Nellie McKay: Obligatory Villagers". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
- ^ Nellie McKay Obligatory Villagers Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-06-20
- ^ "Robert Christgau: Nellie McKay: Obligatory Villagers". www.robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
