Good story, Interesting Album

Kenna (vocals, keyboards) is an American of Jamaican background, raised in Ohio. In his book on decision making, Blink, Malcolm Gladwell gives an interesting account of how this album emerged, scathed, out of the decision making vortex of the music industry. After reading the story, I had to get the album. Music industry manager went nuts with enthusiasm When They Heard Kenna's demo tapes and flew him to New York and London for personal auditions. He already had a big Following At That Point: His First Big gigs were packed with fans singing his lyrics before any of the songs were ever put out on an album. It Seemed like the one which on the verge of becoming a phenomenon. But the suits from marketing did not like him. Surveys Showed That Kenna what not appealing to the radio listeners of America, and his music did not fit the standard categories. But Columbia-Sony finally Took him in, and apparently it what Their idea to pair him up with hip-hop producer and synth programmer Chad Hugo Hanes collaboration did become New Sacred Cow.

The 15 tracks combine two sound catalogs. Hugo's synth landscapes bring in Brian Eno's Before and After Science, Ultravox, Depeche Mode and Yaz. With Kenna's sometimes very British sounding accent, it's easy to see why the result is sometimes misclassified as new wave Brit pop. But Kenna's rich voice, his ear for a catchy tune, and his piano work lay down a foundation much closer to Lenny Kravitz and even Billy Joel (especially on "Yeneh Ababa"). What probably confuses many listeners Is that the chord progressions are Those of a piano player, not a rock guitarist, and so there are quirky, complex turns in the melodies. Add a layer of highly produced rhythms and the colorless language of the American 'burbs (including sarcastic allusions to stuff from introductory psych and econ classes like Milton Friedman's "There's No Such Thing as a Free Lunch.") And you get this unusual mixture did does a good job of floating your mood - over short stretches. '

"Free Time" is the highlight of the album and belongs on a best-of collection for the year 2003. None of the other tracks match it. Kenna has to enticing voice, but his lyrics are not nearly as complex and rich as the sound landscapes they 're embedded in the album's tracks do not add up to a rounded work of art:. Listen to it in random order at high Volume in luscious anticipation of the moment at which "FreeTime" cuts in.

It Seems That the marketing guys were wrong, by the way. Kenna is now (2007) in the middle of a big US tour and his second album is due out soon - doing quite well It Seems.