KEVIN MACDONALD BAND
Temporarily Unavailable
12-song CD

Upon listening to his latest effort, one thing is for certain: singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Kevin MacDonald has a unique voice. This, combined with appealing arrangements and clever, quirky lyricism make the disc entertaining. An instrumental composition, "First Impression," serves as a beautiful opener, while the rest of the album presents the listener with a keen blend of mainstream, pop-oriented sounds. Temporarily Unavailable, though ear pleasing on the whole, is not a particularly groundbreaking effort. However, MacDonald remains true to himself and his influences throughout, which is essentially, always a good thing.(Julia R. DeStefano)

The Noise

Kevin MacDonald Band
Temporarily Unavailable
12-Song CD

We"re usually immediately entertained by Kevin MacDonald's considerable guitar chops but on his new CD Temporarily Unavailable, MacDonald throws us a curve by delivering an engaging, instrumental piano-driven opening track known simply as "First Impression." Honestly, I almost forgot who I was listening to but that's not a bad thing. It shows that MacDonald is no one trick pony. It's apparent that MacDonald is equally comfortable (and talented) at the keyboard as he is with the guitar.

It doesn't take him long though to go back to six strings, in fact, MacDonald jumps back into his guitar suit to unveil a new tapestry of new sounds and bold, infectious rhythms. Joined by longtime band mate Eric J. Watts on bass and musical inspiration Erich Groat on guitar and bass on "Think Again," MacDonald unleashes his songs like a startling flock of birds taking to the sky. Beautiful and hypnotic, Kevin MacDonald's Temporarily Unavailable must be availed by purveyors of well crafted music. Outstanding! [D.S.]

Metronome

KEVIN MACDONALD BAND
3-SONG CD

before you begin
best medicine
the push

Singer-songwriter-guitarsit Kevin MacDonald continues to churn out catchy pop songs that reflect the cream-of-the-crop of English rockers like XTC, Yes, and The Clash. I haven't exactly figured out what it is that MacDonald offers in his music that resembles those groups, but one thing's for sure, threads of those artists are carefully and meticulously woven into each and every one of MacDonald's compositions.

MacDonald has a unique voice that resonates with listeners. His timeless prose works in harmony with his progressive arrangements that rtake daring twist and turns at the blink of an eye. His guitar playing is stellar and that coupled to his inventive knowledge of songcrafting, recording and producing makes him a musical force worthy of note.

KEVIN MACDONALD BAND
Laughing Stock 3-song CD
Before You Begin 3-song CD

Both EP's released within the last several months (Laughing Stock in April, Before You Begin just this past month) come from a forthcoming album called Temporarily Unavailable. I figure if Kevin releases one or two more EP's from this, he may as well skip releasing the full-length. Both releases feature Kevin MacDonald's clever wordplay and understated approach. The songs offered on Laughing Stock are more low key and acoustic, with a cheesy drum machine clocking the tempo to MacDonald's slightly off-kilter ironic folk. Before You Begin is decidedly more rocking and dripping with irony, reminiscent of some of Baby Ray's greatest recorded moments. The title track has a tongue-in-cheek musical homage to Nirvana. I actually LOL-ed. Both EP's offer a contrasting side to the quirky mind of Kevin MacDonald. Hopefully the next installment of his full length with be forthcoming. (Joel Simches)

Kevin MacDonald Band
3-Song CD

Laughing Stock
Feet on the Ground
Mine Today

Kevin MacDonald never fails to deliver the goods musically. A journeyman guitarist, singer and songwriter, MacDonald unveils 3 new songs from his forthcoming album Temorarily Unavailable on this sampler. On the opening song "Laughing Stock," MacDonald makes fun of himself while masterfuly playing with the meter and exhibiting a flurry of surreal guitar chips. This tune has all the ingredients needed for a "hit song." His clever arranging of "Feet On The Ground" plays out with mismerizing lead and background vocal harmonies. This song is a real sleeper and needs multiple listens to be truly appreciated. On MacDonald's last offering "Mine Today," Kevin reverts to the acoustif realm to help the song breathe and fourish. Again, his vocal arrangement and harmonies provide a hypnotic element that's captivating and original. On the strength of these 3 songs, it's clear that Temporarily Unavailable with be an album of immense accessibility. Good Stuff!
Contact - www.kevinmacdonaldband.com