Search - Louise Goffin :: Kid Blue/Louise Goffin

Undeservedly Overlooked Debut and Follow-up

DaveBassTaiko | 05/29/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"What a great two-LPs-on-one-CD deal this is. I remember hearing the best tracks off Kid Blue in '79 on Chicago FM radio, thinking "for a 16-year-old, she can really rock". This isn't profound - you can't expect sophisticated, thoughtful lyrics and arrangements from such a young singer/songwriter - but an ace team of studio pros (Leland Sklar on bass, Steve Lukather & Waddy Wachtel on guitar, et al) give these pop nuggets a pretty good polishing. "Jimmy and the Tough Kids" and "Kid Blue" are energetic, accessible teen-guitar-pop gems. Her cover of "Remember (Walking In the Sand)" is terrific, though the coda and fade-out sound like the producer didn't know what to do with it. The follow-up LP, "Louise Goffin", doesn't have a standout track that might have given the album more attention when it was first released, but it's a similarly tuneful confection. Combined with "Kid Blue", this means there are 20 tracks of enjoyable guitar-pop that too many people passed over in favor of 'New Wave' and synth-pop groups. Some of the tunes almost sound unfinished - perhaps this reflects the limits of most teenagers' ability to create more sophisticated compositions. The professionalism of the studio band keeps the lesser tracks from being distractions and provides a surprising degree of cohesiveness to the whole."

Apparently Not A Big Enough Fan

Female Fan | OH | 06/04/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased three years ago "Sometimes a Circle," but paused time and time again before just recently deciding to purchase "Kid Blue/Louise Goffin." I finally took the plunge and realized quickly -- upon first listen -- that this CD should be reserved for big fans only. It is very simple, monochromatic, and immature in both its musical arrangement and well as its lyrical presentation. The production is similarly flat-sounding. To be fair, I gave it at least 10-15 listens in all. In my opinion, "Kid Blue/Louise Goffin" is a far cry from "Sometimes a Circle," which, I believe, is an absolutely superb release."