Reviews:
Most blues artists keep it down and dirty, detailing the tribulations of life from an underdog's perspective. On
Keep It Simple Keb' Mo' comes at the blues from another prospective; the songs are based on blues forms, but most of the tunes are celebrations of living and loving, music that'll put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step. Musically the tracks here live up to the title with straightforward, small combo arrangements that emphasize Mo's playful vocals-his voice can go from a sensual growl to a happy-go-lucky shout of joy at the drop of a hat-and his sharp guitar work. "Let Your Light Shine" has a gospel feel, but the message is secular-keep a positive attitude when times get tough. "Shave Yo' Legs" is a reminder that the images we see in magazines in TV have nothing to do with natural beauty, that women look fine in second-hand clothes and hairy legs can be sexy. "House in California" echoes Woody Guthrie's "Do Re Me" with its folky instrumentation and a reminder that living California may be fine but even "in the land of milk and honey, you better have some money." Mo' also pays tribute to the more rockin' side of the blues with "Riley B. King," a salute to blues godfather B.B. King that features a guitar duel, in Mr. King's familiar style, between Robert Cray and Robben Ford, the song's co-writer.
"Most blues artists keep it down and dirty, detailing the tribulations of life from an underdog's perspective. On
Keep It Simple Keb' Mo' comes at the blues from another prospective; the songs are based on blues forms, but most of the tunes are celebrations of living and loving, music that'll put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step. Musically the tracks here live up to the title with straightforward, small combo arrangements that emphasize Mo's playful vocals-his voice can go from a sensual growl to a happy-go-lucky shout of joy at the drop of a hat-and his sharp guitar work. ""Let Your Light Shine"" has a gospel feel, but the message is secular-keep a positive attitude when times get tough. ""Shave Yo' Legs"" is a reminder that the images we see in magazines in TV have nothing to do with natural beauty, that women look fine in second-hand clothes and hairy legs can be sexy. ""House in California"" echoes Woody Guthrie's ""Do Re Me"" with its folky instrumentation and a reminder that living California may be fine but even ""in the land of milk and honey, you better have some money."" Mo' also pays tribute to the more rockin' side of the blues with ""Riley B. King,"" a salute to blues godfather B.B. King that features a guitar duel, in Mr. King's familiar style, between Robert Cray and Robben Ford, the song's co-writer.
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