Customer Reviews

The Flower and the Knife

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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Kevn's latest release recalls his earlier success with MacDougal Blues. With the help of Warren Haynes on steel guitar with a slide, John Popper on the harmonica on an updated "Scarred but smarter" with new chords, and many guest players such as Derek Trucks, Edwin McCain and Ken Block among others. Kevn has created a classic recording of some of his best music to date. This album alternately rocks, soothes, rolls, inspires. Kevn is a master songwriter. I saw him in concert May 1st,2000 here in Carrboro, NC and bought the album the next day. You won't be disappointed. Also, for Drivin'N'Cryin fans is a redone bluesy "Straight To Hell" (from Mystery Road). I've listened to this album for two days straight and I'm still inspired - don't miss his versions of Ballad of Hollis Brown (Spooky!) and I shall be released- these are both Bob Dylan songs and are great! Celebrate songwriting, the South, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Waffle House - buy this album!

Kevn has made his best album to date for both the dedicated fan or for the person looking at this cd for the first time. he shares in this cd where he came from (2 dylan covers), where he's been (reworks 2 of my favorite drivin-n-cryin songs), and where he is headed (songs like "whatever" and "dirty angels")...kevn kinney has found his place in time and has put it on this cd...buy it with no regrets and meeted expectations..O-daijini....

Kevn Kinney returns from a six year hiatus on the folk front with this star-studded release, backed most of the way by southern Jam-Band superstar Warren Haynes, who also produces. Kinney spins his typical set of reflective story-songs, with John Popper, Derek Trucks, Edwin McCain, Matt Abts, Jimmy Herring, Hook Herrera, Allen Woody, and Haynes in tow. Kinney brings us a record which is musically not too far removed from 1994's "Down Out Law." Featuring Haynes's sometimes beautiful, sometimes nasty acoustic slide backing his own nasal, resonant voice, Kinney considers giving up on "Quittin' Time" and "Whatever," shows his blues mojo on "40 Miles of Mountain Road," and pays tribute to Dylan on "Ballad of Hollis Brown." With help from Woody and McCain, the minor-masterpiece "Trail of Seasons" memorably opens things.

At times, Kinney's voice sounds as good as it ever has, and his and Haynes's interplay makes this a memorable affair. Despite the great sound and the musical breadth, however, and despite the album's length, the set of songs isn't quite as strong as those of his previous albums. With two Dylan covers and new (unnecessary?) versions of two drivin n cryin classics, Kinney gives us only nine new tunes, not all of which are up to his usual standards. Still, the record sounds great, and should appeal to fans of Kinney and Haynes, and anyone who likes folk or laid-back acoustic jamming.

Actually I would give this cd a 4.5 because of a couple of weaker tracks. If you take the top 7 or 8 songs on here and put them on a cd and add a couple more similar equal songs, this would be one of the greatest cd's ever. It would be in my top 30 ever.

With that said, this is what a cd burner is for or an ipod.

TRAIL OF SEASONS
WHATEVER
THIS TOWN
40 MILES
QUITTIN' TIME
DIRTY ANGELS
ABOVE THE WORLD
FLOWER & A KNIFE

All of these songs are at the top for Kinney - with Drivin n Cryin or without.

You gotta hand it to Kevin Kinney, late the leader of the quirky modern day Southern Rock heros Drivin'n'Cryin'. He has the talent and songwriting skill to pump out Skynyrd-like anthems and live the life of a mega-rock star if he really wanted to. That he chooses instead to remain true to his art and not sellout to the mainstream has kept him interesting as an artist for going on two decades. "The Flower and the Knife" was the first solo album since Kinney put his old band on indefinite hold in the late 90s, and as such it sounds like a clearing of the air.

"Flower" is a very diverse album, featuring uptempo rockers and slower ballads as well as a pair of Bob Dylan covers and two reworkings of songs Kinney originally recorded with D'n'C. For the most part it has a more folkish feel that his work with the band. The best tracks are the opening "Trail of Seasons;" an accoustic reworking of "Scarred but Smarter," the title track from D'n'C's first album; the folkish ballads "This Town" and "Above the World" and the cover of Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." On the downside, the reworking of D'n'C's "Straight to Hell" is inferior to the band's version, and some of the more experimental songs, like "Kerouac," don't really work. Nevertheless, on balance the album is a winner.

Overall, a quirky and smart solo album from an artist who has ofetn been described as "difficult to catagorize."

Another great solo album from Kevn. This one is different from his other two solo albums, and in my opinon is a little bit better than macdougal. Lots of guests, and an eclectic mis of songs from old reworked DNC to new acoustic kevn, to dylan covers. You will not be dissapointed. IF you can catch him live, do your best and go. It is worth a road trip. Truly a gifted songwriter, right up there with Springsteen. D Man

I heard this record where I work and what I heard was the best sounding music I have heard in a long time.