Friday, November 6, 2009

The Kinsey Report - Smoke and Steel 1998


The Kinsey Report - Smoke and Steel 1998

Blues

When Living Colour hit the scene some ten years back, folks were intrigued at how a band might combine hard rock and funk. The band lost interest in the whole idea after just a few albums, though, and so did most of the rest of us.
Both have also encountered the same challenge in trying to break through to the mainstream: Their music has too much blues for rock audiences, too much rock for the blues crowd.
Based on the latest releases from both acts, commercial success would seem within reach if they can just get enough folks to hear them once. While the Top 40 today is populated equally by the predictability of "alternative" rock and the easy-listening sounds of Celine Dion and Mariah Carey, both Hill and the Kinseys provide a fix of the kind of muscular, hard-driving music formerly provided by bands like Van Halen or the Allman Brothers.
Only at a more interesting level. Both of these African-American acts come from solid musical backgrounds in the blues tradition; this lifelong exposure to real musical artistry permeates their songwriting and performances. Both Hill and Donald Kinsey (lead guitarist for the Kinsey Report) can improvise in their solos, something most rock guitarists can barely dream about.
"Smoke and Steel" marks the Kinsey Report's return to Alligator Records after a contract with a major label failed to provide the bump into stardom they'd hoped for. Donald and brothers Kenneth (bass) and Ralph (drums) Kinsey have toned down the pace a bit from previous albums, concentrating more on songwriting (which continues to improve) and arrangements. The result is an album as thoughtful as it is energetic, one that doesn't simply try to blow past you like a Randy Johnson fastball. They mix things up a bit more, and the music is more interesting for it.
Michael Hill's third album for Alligator, "New York State of Blues," also shows a greater willingness than previous outings to try a change of pace. Used to be, Hill came at you with everything he had up front. It was impressive, but often overwhelmed the listener's ability to take it all in.
Still, as the title implies, there's a certain East Coast attitude involved, a brazenness or cockiness to the music. Hill and his Blues Mob have the chops to pull it off, though. He's one of the most exciting guitarists around – and a fine rough-voiced singer to boot.
By Jim Trageser.

These guys have come a long way since their days as Big Daddy Kinsey's Fabulous Sons. Now the sons have become a power trio and inhabit that gray area between blues and rock. On this album, their first for Alligator Records in a number of years, they continue to mature into a very tight unit; this is very evident on the vocal duet "Dead in Your Tracks." Several fine musicians sit in on many of the sides. Anthony Space does some gorgeous keyboard work, and "Mad Dog" Lester Davenport's tasteful harmonica solo on "Deep in a Dark Dungeon" is also worth a listen. Most of the titles are self-penned and for the most part are ably crafted. There are also several nice covers, such as a Hendrix-ish version of John Fogerty's "Rattlesnake Highway," and a funky rendition of Bob Seger's "Fire Down Below." It might be blues or it might not, either way, it is a nicely done album.
By Lars Gandil.
**
Donald Kinsey- (Vocals, Guitar)
Ralph Kinsey- (Vocals, Drums, Percussion)
Kenneth Kinsey- (Bass, Background Vocals)
Dave Miller, Will Crosby- (Guitar);
"Mad Dog" Lester Davenport- (Harmonica)
Roosevelt Purifoy, Anthony Space- (Keyboards)
LaSandra Maloney, Nancy Shaffer- (Background Vocals)
**
01. Time Is Running Out
02. Dead in Your Tracks
03. This Old City
04. Can't See the Hook
05. Loved Ones
06. Must Be Love
07. When the Church Burned Down
08. Rattlesnake Highway
09. Down in the Dungeon
10. Fire Down Below
11. Code of the Streets
12. One Step Back
**
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2 comments:

  1. Funny you mention Living Colour in your post for this record. I saw The Kinsey Report open for Living Colour at a club in Cincinnati on the Vivid tour (89-90?). The Kinsey's were on FIRE and totally embarrassed the headliner. They were so much better than LC. I also saw Urban Dance Squad open for Living Colour a year or two later at the SAME club. And it was the SAME story! UDS were insane! They schooled LC! And I'm not cappin' on Living Colour...I loved those guys, but they got their asses handed to 'em twice in the same club by their opener!

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  2. u r a 1 lucky guy ellison, to be a witness of those things.
    i wish a had that chance too.
    happy newyear. ;)

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