Kelly Finnigan – “The Hurting Truth”
San Francisco-based Kelly Finnigan debuts on the blog with the deeply expressive “The Hurting Truth.”
“The Hurting Truth” is a blast of deep Southern soul… an old sound that feels exceptionally heartfelt, intimate, and is coated in a rich analog warmth. It’s the kind of sound that you’d associate with respected, deep-cut acts like Howard Tate, Arthur Conley, Don Bryant, The Invincibles, and Eddie Floyd, to name a few. This one will please soul lovers to the core.
The music feels vintage in every sense, from the glowing, vibrant organ and patient, relaxed drums, the warm caramel bass played by long-time Colemine Records collaborator Jimmy James (Parlor Greens), and the restrained, expressive electric guitar that sophisticatedly fills in all the right places. It’s remarkably tasteful and moving; this isn’t a song built around perfection or elaborate production, but around pure emotion.
Finnigan’s vocal is deeply evocative, carrying real emotional nuance and power. You can hear the ache in every phrase, the sense of testimony in the delivery, and the vulnerability beneath the surface. Finnigan is the heartbreaker here, and from this performance, you can see why the love interest in the lyrics can’t let go.
On the track, Finnigan recalls: “The Hurting Truth came together fast, Jimmy’s always down... he played the bass, then the guitar, and I finished the words and melodies.”
Stirring and atmospheric, “The Hurting Truth” is taken from the forthcoming record B-Sides, Singles & Forgotten Gems, releasing August 14th via Colemine Records.