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ｾ ｅ ｖ ｉ ｅ ｗ ｓ CD RELEASES Keb'Mo' Desert Fathers

ERIN HAI.,l give this three stars rather than asst. reviews editor two, but in the end it came down to my honest opinion of the musical quality. I I will admit that I have never taken have never been a fan of concept rock, hallucinogenic drugs, but 1 would ven- but I realize that this album might be ture to guess that if I did, this album right up some readers' alleys. This would be the soundtrack to the worst album is poised to become the darling trip of all time. The Desert Fathers cre- of progressive radio, but don't ever ate a completely new sonic landscape in this album. I'm not talking about your now commonplace chanting "The Spirituality" monks or strangely tuned . I'm talking about randomness all the way Threespheres Records from morphed vocals made to sound like some sort of demon to commen- tary from an elderly man on Charles ***** Darwin's theory of evolution. Though I expect to hear it on your friendly was blown away by the sheer random- neighborhood Clear Channel con- ness of this album, it is not my job to trolled stations. If you're into the most judge the commercial appeal of an experimental types of prog rock, this album. It is my job to listen to the actu- album might be just what you're look- al musicianship. That, I will say, does ing for. If not, I suggest you stick to have some merit. While most of the more conventional artists.

NORA SHERMAN interim arcade editor tracks are similarly sweet. "France" Keh' Mo' is a man just trying to play imagines Mo' saving up the money to the and sing the . He's been bring his lady across the sea. "One doing so for over 10 years, and his Friend" is an ode to the soul mate. His musical knowledge and experience are honesty is perhaps his most appealing certainly evident on his new self-pro- feature. Mo' sings frankly about the duced record, "." Mo's pressures of family and professional blues are flat, his lyrics center around life in "Keep It Simple" and "House in the mundane concerns that arise in a California." Mo' is an unabashed adult; monogamous relationship. Yet his gui- he is worldly, mature, forthright and tar riffs are hardly that, more like gen- not afraid of his feelings. "I'm tle, steady strumming. The melodies Amazing" states it clearly. While he are light-hearted and very much blues- declares that he is, indeed, amazing, he pop (he is like an older and wiser Jonny adds, ''That doesn't mean I'm better I Lang). It's great music to have in the Than anyone or anything I It's just a background while you clean the bath- call to come together I And accept . room or check your e-mails. responsibility." It is a sentiment that is Mo' is a romantic. The song "Shave all too lacking in society today. Mo' Yo' Legs" is a love letter to his woman, cannot compete with the blues greats, urging her to forgo the makeup, fancy but it's clear that playing the blues is a clothes and yes, freshly shaved legs in labor of love. By listening to the favor of being herself, "wild and free" record, we partake in his joy. (as he puts it, "Forget about the cover Jet me read the book"). Most of the sound is distorted beyond anything Bottom Line: Keb 'Mo's gentle guitar recognizable, they do create some and mellow tunes makes for easy-lis- Bottom Line: Fans of conventional interesting bass lines and produce a ｴ ･ ｮ ｩ ｾ ｧ Ｎ a sort of "blues-light" that goes pop radio should approach with variety of truly captivating sounds well on movie soundtracks and adult extreme caution. from their guitars. I was templed to contemporary radio.

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