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Some otherwise seriously talented musicians are real pricks. Sinatra
used to refer to the late Marlon Brando as Mumbles. And Zappa seldom
had a good word for anyone. But you can almost tell from KM's recorded
works that he's a real sweetness and light kinda guy. Which doesn't
mean I won't slag his record. But I c-can't. Even if he were Mr. Mean
Man. It would be like strangling The Velveteen Rabbit. Because opening
track "Drizzle" sounds like its title. Because a song like
"Abby's All Around" floods my bloodstream with endorphins.
And the gorgeously lush "Emily in Autumn" is nearly trance-inducing.
KM is himself Very Seriously Talented. Okay, so the production is kind
of murky. And a good deal of this album sounds like it simply took a
wrong left turn on the way back from the Baby Ray and XTC exhibits at
Pepperland (for instance, "Blink"). And as usual, there's
some otherwise resonating psychedelic fodder that's maybe just a wee
bit too twee, like the synthy "Circular Saws". And yet, there's
much more than one good idea here. And the whole is much more than the
sum of its parts. Why---this is better than a $2,000 vacation! (Francis
DiMenno)
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Musician Kevin MacDonald played, recorded and mixed all the songs on his new album a good idea along with the help of musician Erich Groat on vocals, guitar and keyboards on two cuts. MacDonald has an unusually creative flair for songwriting that parallels that of bands like Yes, XTC, Genesis and Steely Dan. Complex arrangements filled with lush instrumentation and soaring
vocal work fills the track of this well played and recorded album and
spotlights MacDonald's considerable talents not only as a fine musician
but an equally talented producer, arranger and engineer. Home recordings
of this magnitude are always welcome listening. Good stuff. |