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Just Walk Away: Kelly Willis' What I Deserve

RJ Smith, The Village Voice, 13 April 1999

KELLY WILLIS HAS the most uncomfortable-making way of saying "thank you". Live a few weekends ago I heard her say it at least a dozen times, tossed off after songs, every time rolling off as the most deferential, sweetest gull-darned sign of appreciation. Billy Bob Thornton in his yokel mode couldn't play it any better, any more the easygoing southerner just begging with a sincere smile for an oil tanker to flatten him. Thank you, she says, as many times as the Dixie Chicks have safety pins, one for every tooth in Billy Bob's head, and every single one of them breaks your fucking heart.

Total word count of piece: 859

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