Albums
Black Irish
Black Irish is McNally’s most personal project yet, which is saying a lot, given the Americana singer-songwriter’s deep catalog. But it speaks to the power of connection, and the power of music to create it and to reflect it. The kick off track “You Made Me Feel For You”, was written by her producer, Americana icon, Rodney Crowell, and serves as a metaphor for their collaboration - how his particular understanding of her unique gifts pulled out the career-defining album many have been waiting for since she came on the scene.
Small Town Talk (Songs of Bobby Charles)
2013 album from the American singer/songwriter. The album, which is a collection of Bobby Charles songs, is a musical collaboration with the legendary Dr. John. Everybody knows Bobby Charles through his songs. Charles wrote such instantly recognizable hits as 'See You Later Alligator,' 'Walking to New Orleans' and 'But I Do,' but the reclusive singer/songwriter, who passed away in 2010, is relatively unknown for his own recordings. This album puts the spotlight back on the songs and the man who wrote them. - Amazon Editorial Review.
Western Ballad
On Western Ballad, McNally and Bingham have made an album that reaches more boldly and illuminates her thoughts more clearly than ever, in the process calling into questions a lot of assumptions about immediacy and honesty. - Alex Rawls, OffBeat Magazine, February 2011 issue
Coldwater
Coldwater is the epitome of low-key by comparison; self-produced, self-released and demo-like, just McNally, her three-piece road band Hot Sauce and the late Jim Dickinson on keyboards, at whose Zebra Ranch they recorded it a year ago. She hung onto the rootsiness of her sensibilities but, for all intents and purposes, parted ways with pop, turning out eight willfully loose, swampy country-soul tracks, her sensual, humid singing smack-dab in the middle of them, rather than out front. - American Songwriter
North American Ghost Music
It's raw and immediate, and captures her at her best. - All Music Guide; February 2006
Geronimo
Drawing on the defiant spirits of outlaws and visionaries such as Jesse James, Susan B. Anthony, Little Richard, she takes her listeners on a timeless and haunting journey through her self coined North American Ghost Music on her new album 'Geronimo.' Armed with a spine tingling voice, easy inner beauty, and songs that linger, she almost makes you wish she'd rob your bank. Produced by Charlie Sexton, mixed by Grammy Award winning Engineer Trina Shoemaker, and featuring stellar musicians like bassists Tony Garnier, and Tony Hall, multi-instrumentalist Greg Liesz, drummer to the stars Raymond Weber, keyboard legend Ian McLagan, and Sexton himself, 'Geronimo' is a chapbook of stories, a collection of gritty blues, country, roots, and rock. - Narada. 2005.
Run for Cover
Hauntingly beautiful Western Ballad was officially released March 22. McNally played lead guitar throughout and co-wrote all but two of the songs with Mark Bingham.. - Michael Bialas, Hufffpost
Jukebox Sparrows
Shannon’s first full length album by American singer-songwriter Shannon McNally, released in 2002
Light Walker Demos EP
If "Rock My Soul", Shannon's tribute to Levon Helm, was the only song on the EP, then this would be a winner in my view. Her caring and affection come through it a huge way. But "Light Walker" shines and "If It Were Mine to Keep" is so infectious. Highly recommended. - Robert Fasinski
Southside Sessions
Charlie Sexton And Shannon McNally
This is one of those recordings that's low-key, quiet at first but builds up a tidal wave of emotion eventually sweeping over you and demanding your attention. But fear not, you'll be smiling and tapping your foot rather than gasping for air! It's definitely a Charlie Sexton production since he plays most of the instruments and his vocals are prominent in several of the songs. It's somewhat more straight-ahead Americana than Shannon's usual funky, bluesy/rootsy stuff. I sure hope they tour together as a followup to this CD, because it would be a beautiful thing. - Lee Watkins
Bolder Than Paradise
Like Sheryl Crow or the latest incarnation of Shelby Lynne, Shannon McNally blends a dash of country, a cup of soul, and a smattering of singer-songwriter verve--a concoction that ought to please fans of the aforementioned gals. McNally's debut EP bodes well for a promising future. Her voice has a sultry swagger and it benefits here from some nifty arrangements. On the opening "Down and Dirty," for example, you can detect the scent of gritty blues-soul wafting from somewhere underneath the breezy dance track, but the combination clicks. The highlight of these six songs is "Love Hate," a quiet shuffle with both gentle pedal steel and horn-section accents. The quirky little romp "Just Like Chicken" is kind of fun, as is the groovy cover of Paul Simon's "50 Ways," though neither is about to set the world afire. Still, there's enough interesting stuff here to make one look forward to McNally's forthcoming full-length. - Marc Greilsamer
Ran On Pure Lightning
Neal Casal and I produced this mini-album together in 2001 before “Jukebox Sparrows” was released, so it technically was my first release and contains the original recording of "Pale Moon." Since his passing this year, his entire catalog has been released digitally. This is a sweet little record that we essentially made in a closet at Cello Studios in Hollywood. Neal went on to jam band fame as part of the Grateful Dead extended family. There were many other bands and projects that he fronted and sided as well. He was a superb guitar player with the fleeting spirit of Gram Parsons who brought good music wherever he went.