Will Kimbrough may have had his start making meaty rock with the Bis-Quits and Will and the Bushmen, but his subsequent solo discs prove he's a musical omnivore. Home Away kicks off with chugging electric blues ("Piece of ... more »Work"), detours through anthemic rock ("This Modern World" and "Letdown"), and winds up in downcast pop ("Anita O'Day") and folk ("You Don't Know Me So Well"). In between, a giddy, bouncing banjo on "Happier" spites the song's melancholy lyric, while trumpet, Wurlitzer, and synthesizers punctuate the retro-rock "Crackup." The piano ballad "I Love My Baby" finds Kimbrough paying homage to John Lennon, and in "Hey Big Sister," his falsetto conveys the wistful ache of this tale of tangled family ties. "When they handed out ambition, I was next to last in line," Kimbrough claims in "Champion of the World." Ignore such self-effacing plaints: Home Away is the work of a thoroughly smart songwriter skilled in an engaging amalgam of styles. --Anders Smith Lindall« less
Will Kimbrough may have had his start making meaty rock with the Bis-Quits and Will and the Bushmen, but his subsequent solo discs prove he's a musical omnivore. Home Away kicks off with chugging electric blues ("Piece of Work"), detours through anthemic rock ("This Modern World" and "Letdown"), and winds up in downcast pop ("Anita O'Day") and folk ("You Don't Know Me So Well"). In between, a giddy, bouncing banjo on "Happier" spites the song's melancholy lyric, while trumpet, Wurlitzer, and synthesizers punctuate the retro-rock "Crackup." The piano ballad "I Love My Baby" finds Kimbrough paying homage to John Lennon, and in "Hey Big Sister," his falsetto conveys the wistful ache of this tale of tangled family ties. "When they handed out ambition, I was next to last in line," Kimbrough claims in "Champion of the World." Ignore such self-effacing plaints: Home Away is the work of a thoroughly smart songwriter skilled in an engaging amalgam of styles. --Anders Smith Lindall
CD Reviews
The perfect antidote for this modern world.....
Mark Fern | Pittsburg, Kansas United States | 09/25/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In the Diddly-tinged "Piece of Work" leading off this superb second album, Will Kimbrough describes the inner contradictions that make each of us who we are, and defiantly declares, "I am who the hell I am". Lucky for us he is. Because, as it happily turns out, Kimbrough is each one of every one of us too. Like me, and you, probably, if you're reading this review, Kimbrough obviously grew up not far from a radio or a record player, noting every hook and melody that made him want to sing along. However, unlike me, and maybe you, Will Kimbrough's talent as a singer, songwriter, producer, and musician, places him a universe above the washboard-middled groundlings scrabbling about today's pop music landscape looking the part, but lacking anything relevant to say to any one over the age of 13. Instead, and as with each of us, in Kimbrough's world he deals daily with love, family, regret, uncertainty, anticipation, fear, faith, and hope. For instance, under Kimbrough's deft touch, a song that realistically speaks of devotion and commitment like "I Love My Baby" avoids syrupy sweetness and stays grounded with the reality that "She's always thinking 'bout, something I can do without....." And, reality being what it is in 2002, in the obvious hit single we'll probably never hear on the radio, "This Modern World", Kimbough holds up a mirror to the new millenium's obsession with style over substance, and laments, "I'm just an old fashioned boy, strictly kickin' it old school, I don't think that I can compete in this modern world." Well, maybe Will Kimbrough can't compete in this modern world, but if that's true then we'll be the losers, not him, as this album, which teases us with hints of Lennon, McCartney, Paul Simon, Al Green, Elton John, Randy Newman, and seemingly every other radio icon of Kimbrough's formative years, is a clear winner, and to my ears, the perfect antidote to this modern world."
Another success for Will Kimbrough
Adam Morgan | Charlotte, NC USA | 12/01/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My music collection spans everything from Eminem to Aerosmith to the Beatles, and every time I buy a Will Kimbrough CD, he continues to amaze me. His albums keep getting better with each release and his music reminds me that good lyrics still exist...you just have to know where to look. I've already recommended this to several friends."
Nothing short of AMAZING
cade2002 | Little Rock, AR | 11/14/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Will Kimbrough brings soul to every word he sings, every note he plays. I was lucky enough to hear songs from this albulm at a live performance this month in Mobile, AL. Will was gracious enough to perform for a Cystic Fibrosis benefit. His true-to-life lyrics really hit home. My reason for attending the benefit was to see another band play. I was disappointed with their performance, but Will was a great surprise! I bought the albulm that week! I can honestly say that this is one of the best albulms I've ever owned and gets better everytime I listen to it. Will Kimbrough is a no ..... guy. His lyrics are honest. His voice is telling. His musical ability is extremely underrated. Do yourself a favor and buy this albulm. It will never leave your car."
Another stellar effort from an artist not known well enough
cade2002 | 10/12/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been listening to Will since he was in the Bushmen back in the 1980s (back in the day ...). THIS was a great album, and still remains one of my favorites, and HOME AWAY also ranks up there. It's a deeper, more introspective, and more complex work, but it's also an interesting musical melange. Sure, there's some Americana-tinged alt country sound here and there, but there's also some pure McCartney-esque pop there as well, combined with lyrics that would even make John Lennon envious. Another great effort; too bad radio ..., or else this would get a ton of airplay."
Otro gran desconocido en mi tierra
sacristo | Spain | 05/20/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Efectivamente se trata de otra gema en el desierto. Descubrí a Kimbrough donde suelo conocer grandes compositores completamente anónimos para el gran público, en la tienda de mi amigo Joaquín aquí en Madrid. Lo pone y comienzan a surgir arrebatadas influencias de enormes maestros a los cuales Will Kimbrough rinde pleitesía a lo largo y ancho del disco. Lennon y McCartney, los Kinks, Bowie,... pop rock dibujado a golpes de roots.
Sorprende gratamente el manejo que realiza el artista de su guitarra, a la que sabe sacar punteos distorsionados sin perder ni un instante la cabeza, punteos muy sólidos y bien argumentados en todo momento. A destacar igualmente los arreglos y la producción del álbum, que le dotan de la facultad de ser un disco de altos vuelos, ideal para llegar a la sencilla conclusión de que el verdadero rock se hace ahora mismo en Estados Unidos por gente absolutamente desconocida para la gran masa que sólo consume los dictados de una más que patética industria de modas pasajeras y blandas.
Kimbrough resuelve estas cuestiones en once cortes de gran calidad. Capaz de abarcar varios estilos como es, lo cual hace que apetezca pinchar el disco en muchos ratos, demuestra en el álbum poder con su guitarra, una bonita voz y estar bien rodeado con músicos solventes. Un trabajo fino."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1