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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nik's stolen the show...he just don't know! It's perfect!, August 17, 2002
From the sheer joyous fun of "Wounded" to the warm hug of "Show Them What You're Made Of," Nik Kershaw's latest offering To Be Frank is perfect for those seriously looking for true music instead of worrying what will help them be with the "kewl" crowd.I have been a Kershaw fan since 1984 and Nik seems to care about his fans and shows he loves to share his musical talent. This time around he's more acoustic but still with plenty of emotion to back it up. There have been few songs over the years that have deeply affected me like Paula Cole's "I Am So Ordinary" and Tori Amos' "Crucify," and Nik's song "Already" is the latest example of how perfect a song can be lyrically as well as in the melody. Take a listen to this track and you'll find yourself looking up, tilting your head a little to one side, and smiling as you sing along. It's got such a powerful feeling of hope. On To Be Frank, Nik's vocals are right upfront, never upstaging the music and never drowned out by effects. When songs are sad they never are depressing, they are hopeful even when about conflict, and upbeat songs can be sly with a knowing wink and smile. It's a nice touch that many of these tracks overlap each other (which might aggravate those wanting certain tracks for personal mix compilations), it keeps a nice flow and gives the feel of a complete story. Musically, it's amazing how the songs never maintain a sameness -- there are shifts within the songs that never interfere with the rhythm or enjoyment. While an acoustic flavor is present throughout, there are a nice range of sounds going on here. "Wounded" will please those that remember the upbeat fun of "Don Quixote," there's the folk style of "Take Me To The Church," a pinch of funk in the wonderful "All's Fair," the toe-tapping rhythm of "Die Laughing," and the more guitar-driven "Jane Doe" (for those that liked the sound of his previous album 15 Minutes, this track will please). I personally find "Already" to be the most perfect track, it always brightens my day listening to it. It's a shame that the two import tracks "They Say" and "Food For Fantasy" weren't included on this release as I was not able to get my hands on the CD single of "Wounded" and many in the U.S. like myself will be left without! It is rather odd too, that the acoustic version of "Wouldn't It Be Good" was once again put on To Be Frank since it was also included on 15 Minutes. I never tire of any version of that song, but why they keep including that one is a mystery. It's also a mystery that Nik Kershaw hasn't been invited to appear on any of the U.S. late night talk shows to perform yet, or even been pushed by MTV/VH1. There could be a whole new group of fans out there for him if some of these more commercial powers-that-be would give him a chance. After all, they are already offering an overdose of artists who scream at the top of their lungs to squeeze money out of the baggy jeans crowd. Nik offers something different, something fresh. In the meantime, I feel proud to be one of his supporters and will be spreading the word about his great music. In my opinion, as the song "Already" states: "He's already there, he's already made it, he's already stolen the show...he just don't know." I have a feeling though that Nik Kershaw knows how much his music means to his fans, and will continue to share with us for a long time to come.
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is Nik Kershaw's 
