Customer Reviews

Eudemonic

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Steve Kimock Band (SKB) is an evolutionary musical vehicle for guitarist Steve Kimock and drummer Rodney Holmes. Long time listeners know that SKB thrives on improvisational live performances characterized by extended interplay among an everchanging set of extraordinary musicians. Eudemonic is a studio recording that documents one incarnation of SKB that included Alphonso Johnson (bass) and Mitch Stein (more guitar).

This album is a perfect introduction to Kimock. Eudemonic contains the essence of nine compositions by Kimock and/or Holmes. The standout track is The Bronx Experiment. This composition demonstrates the range of SKB's use of instrumentation and melodic themes.

Steve has spent his career perfecting guitar technique and tone. Fans know that live performance is the best way to enjoy the Steve Kimock Band. Quality recordings of these performances can be downloaded from either DigitalSoundboard.net or the Live Music Archive (http://www.archive.org/audio/etree.php). These recordings contain the music as well as audience participation. The studio album contains just the music. So, the trade off is between longer explorations of compositions with improvisation and crowd noise or a tight, studio recording with just the music. Eudemonic is not to be missed.

This album is amazing. The skill with which everything has been crafted and made into something much more than the sum of it's parts reflects the Steve Kimock composes music. The artwork, pictures and color scheme blend together in a very intentional way. Even the "Thanks" section seems to be there not because it's always there, but because the band wanted to thank the special people in their lives.

The songs are jaw-drpooing. No single lick perfectly exemplifies the disk...yet every piece belongs. Not shouting for itself, rather paving the way for the next to come. The songs manage to perform this impressive balancing act by a means seemingly beyond explination, but well within comprehension.

Steve Kimock is the namesake of the band, but not always the focus. Every member feeds each other. Groovin to the lead guitar is very enjoyable, but only listening to that means you're missing the best interaction on the disk. The rhythm, bass, keys and drums all take their turns in the spotlight shining brightly enough to pass on the light to whoever finds it next.

Eudemonic is an experience. It is nothing more than what it is.

This CD is just a beautiful aural soundscape and a great example of why fans of Kimock just keep coming back for more "K-Waves". The song versions are different than what Kimock fans are used to live, but one shouldn't expect a studio disc to sound live. The disc manages to showcase Steve Kimock's virtuoso playing and dedication to flow and tone extremely well. My favorites are an exploratory "Ice Cream," the middle-eastern sounding "Bronx Experiment" played on the Octave Mandolin, and just a gorgeous "In Reply." But every cut on this disc is right on. Play it loud, listen carefully, and you won't be disappointed.

I had the opportunity to see this encarnation just after recording this album. What a solid group! Alphonso's phrasing and tone are so tasteful. I'm not sure as to why they decided to speed up Tongue 'n' Groove so much, it sounds a little strange...Not even coming from a perspective of hearing it a certain way for so long, and it changing, but because the tempo seems pretty normal in Steve's intro, then once the band kicks in, the tempo is a bit on top of the groove rather than relaxing behind.

The drums are a little dry and gated sounding which contrasts strangely with the reverberated guitars and keys. Some of Rodney's 'solo' type moments don't seem to have the same effect as they do in a reverberated stage mode where the kit sounds monsterous and booming.

I really enjoy the 'only can happen in the studio' tracking of the Bronx Experiment. Can't wait to hear some more acoustic instrument useage by Steve in the studio. I realize Bouncer was written right around the time of this recording, and debuted in the same set of shows I was at...but the studio version didn't seem to have much driving force and feel that the live version does. Some of this has to do with the dry sounding drums, some of it has to do with the effect being used on the intro theme guitar that hides the stretched out chord that sounds so thick live.

Overall, it's a great album. A wonderful gift and introduction to SKB for anyone. Buy a handful and give them as gifts for 2005 Holiday season.

XM 43 XMU plays "Elmer's Revenge" once in, well, a blue moon. The rest of the album isn't much different from that one. No vocals, it's more jazz-tinged than out of the "White man's blues" mold of most Rock. Mature, sophisticated, relaxed, and only so slick, it's very positive and even hopeful. If you're a 30-something with a post-graduate degree in Manhattan or DC looking for background music for your party, consider it?

If there's a flaw here, it's the sequence of the playlist. Once fixed, there's a really great time to be had here.

Kimock is not for everyone. First, you have to love guitar. Second, you have to love drums (because Rodney Holmes is the best!). Third, you have to love instrumental music, music that isn't muddled up with words and carries all of it's emotional power purely in it's tone. But for those who get it, there's no one that compares to Steve Kimock.

Yes, he's better live. You're best to go see one of his concerts. Yes, this studio album sounds "canned" (not in sound quality or tone, which is excellent, but just because he's not improving, "riding the k-waves" like he usually does). But it's a great way to get started and I definitely recommend it. Worth every penny and every minute spent.

well, i bought that LP for Rodney Holmes and I am not disappointed. him and the bass guitarist help a lot. The guitars coul dbe a little more agressive, sometimes it doesn't go along well with the rythmic, it is too laid back, or the rythmic is too pushy.
Lots of intro are the same type of drumfill...rodney can do better and remain musical without turning into a very technic thing.

The production is strange, but the guitar never really explode, and it is really missing sometimes, sometimes it sounds cheap.

However it is a good album, it could have been excelent

Having anticipated this studio Cd for a long while, I have never been so disappointed in a CD as well as in Kimock. Most any of the live shows that you can download are better - why? Because they have more soul, more heart, more musical inspiration. This Cd is boring, flat and uninspiring and uninspired to say the least. It is nothing more than Kimock aural wallpaper that could be used as a demo trailer if he ever decided to go elevator music. I have been a big fan of Kimock for years, KVHW, etc....this one in a word SUCKS!