Keep It Simple

Keb' Mo' | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 10, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00015V59Y
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,142 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #21 in Music > Blues > Acoustic Blues
  • #53 in Music > Blues > Modern Blues
  • #89 in Music > Blues > Electric Blues

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Depends on what you like!, May 28, 2004

By 

Gregory A. Glasscock "rhwoodpecker" (Alabama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keep It Simple (Audio CD)

Keb Mo has done 3 of my favorite albums (CD's...I am an old dog) of all time. Keb' Mo, Just Like You, and Slow Down are the three. The Door and Keep It Simple don't get me. He is still a great voice and guitar player but the music just doesn't move me. I think, as has been noted, that he is moving away from the blues and that is fine. I hate to see artists get pigeon holed into something they don't have their heart in. And in all fairness, none of the CD's are totally blues anyway. But I will say that if blues is your bag, then certainly start with one of the early works. If you like a littele more pop sound then buy Keep It Simple or The Door. By the way, I happen to enjoy Big Wide Grin, which is all covers, more than Keep It Simple or The Door. The selections are interesting and well performed. I stand Keb's version of America the Beautiful up with Ray Charles' version. And Everybody Be Yo'self is one of my favorite Keb' Mo recordings. I wait with interest to see where he goes next. I will continue to follow but will always gravitate to the first three works. One more thing, his Sessions at 54th make me want to see him live. He has a great stage persona.

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You won't crack a frown, February 13, 2004

By 

Janet Allen "sandpiper" (Florida, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Keep It Simple (Audio CD)

Keb' Mo' lets his light shine on this CD. The music is a mix of blues, pop, with a bit of gospel and even bluegrass thrown in. The first track, "France" sets an upbeat mood, and makes you smile from the start. "Let Your Light Shine" has an affirming message with a gospel tone. The sardonic "Prosperity Blues" laments that things can be so good, they're bad. And the title track, "Keep it Simple" features some of the best guitar work on the CD.

Keb's "Riley B. King" is a great tribute to a great man, and it features outstanding guitar solos from Robert Cray and Robben Ford. In "House In California" we get to hear Keb's bango playing, and some fine bluegrass instrumentation. Background vocals on the song are provided by Vince Gill, Amy Grant, and Andrea Zonn (who also plays the violin on the track).

The other tracks are not disappointing, either. This is not "low down blues" but "up high blues". Keb's in fine voice and great songwriting form. Thanks, Mr. Mo', it was worth the wait.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keb' Mo' Makes Blues Mo' Beautiful, February 15, 2005

By 

Randy Bonifield "randyb" (Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keep It Simple (Audio CD)

Not being a Keb' Mo' follower, I picked up this CD after hearing of its 2005 Grammy® Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album and listening through the cuts online. Simply put, I have not purchased a better CD all year.

This CD caught me offguard from the start with "France", a terrifically humorous story of a wife's desire to travel abroad..."Aint nothin' wrong with Texas/But I'd really love to go to France". The fourth cut, "Shave Yo' Legs" is one of the most endearing love songs I've ever heard and "Prosperity Blues" has such a great spin on the "blues" that you can't help but chuckle. Keb' Mo's tip of the hat to B.B. King in "Riley B. King" is a beautifully fitting tribute cut that features both Robben Ford and Robert Cray with their best King imitations. The title cut, "Keep It Simple", contains one of the best payoff lines you'll ever hear, but the hidden treasure on this CD just might be the "King"-ly "Walk Back In".

Keb' Mo's blending of a more contemporary pop and blues sound with straight-forward lyric and the perfect blend of joy and sadness is what makes this CD sing. Where some would criticize Mo' for his "abandonment" of his roots, this listener found "Keep It Simple" to be an incredibly palatable and addictive blues injected recording that combined strong lyrical content, well-crafted songwriting, and a varied blues foundation. That is probably what sets this recording apart from the rest - Keb' Mo's ability to vary his sound and words to create a layered beautiful blues offering.