Bobby Kimball We're Not in Kansas Anymore Review by Gary Hill
The title to this album is a clever nod to Bobby Kimball's history. Kimball first rose to wide attention as the original lead singer in Toto. This album finds him in more of a jazzy, soulful territory. It works really well for him. While this isn't my favorite type of music, everything here is done with such passion and skill that it really sells it. This is just a very fun album to spin.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2017 Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Too Far Behind
The keyboards (Derek Sherinian) that open this are classy. It works out to a cool jazz meets pop rock vibe from there. This is a killer tune that is very effective. The instrumental break on this takes it into a real fusion territory.
On My Feet I love the jazz elements of this thing. The vocal performance is a real powerhouse, too. This has a lot of soul and power and energy.
Hey It's Me The funky bass work on this is on fire. This cut is a high energy funky stomper that works so well.
One Day Now, this song really does feel a lot like Kimball's old band. This is more of a ballad. I love the layers of vocals. The whole cut is just so classy. Sure, this still has some of those jazz stylings built into it, but overall this is more rock ballad than it is anything else.
Flatline Funky soul and rock merge on this scorcher. It's a killer tune with a healthy helping of funk in the mix. There are parts of this that make me think of Parliament a little, even.
Met Her For A very proggy tune, this feels like something Billy Sherwood would have a hand in writing. I had to check the credits since Kimball and Sherwood have worked together, but Sherwood wasn't involved in this cut at all. There are some great symphonic styled elements here. There are definitely Beatles-like elements here. This is one of my favorites of the disc.
Hold On Coming in with just piano, there is an old-school gospel vibe to this as the vocals join. The cut works forward from there with a bit more of a fusion sound.
Scam
There are some parts of this that make me think of Prince a bit. This has some proggy elements with a cool R&B and funk vibe to it at the same time. While this is really all rocker, it has plenty of other textures at play, too.
You'll Be with Me This is a pretty ballad. It's soulful and quite tasty.
Some They Do Another funky song, this feels like Earth Wind and Fire in a lot of ways to me. I really love the horn drenched instrumental section on this stomping hot tune.
You're Not Alone
Piano starts this and moves it forward. The cut grows out a balladic cut that's powered up. It's packed with emotion and just works so well.
