Customer Reviews

Kickin It at the Barn

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kickin' It At The Barn shows Little Feat continuing to expand their musical horizons. While their musicianship continues to be impressive and the performances here are first rate, the songwriting is somewhat inconsistent with most of the best songs comprising the album's first half.

The album starts out strong with "Night On The Town" and "Heaven Foresaken." Paul Barrere's lead vocals on these tracks are as smooth as ever and Bill Payne's piano work on the former continues to be first rate. The female backing vocals add a nice touch to these tracks. In another time when radio emphasized music over image, "Heaven Foresaken" would have been a hit. "I'd Be Lyin" is a blues shuffle which spotlights Shaun Murphy's soaring lead vocals. The band continue to add to their musical stew with the Mexican sounds of "Corazones y Sombras" which is one of the best tracks here. The true standout on the album is the instrumental "Stomp", a killer 9-minute fusion jam which features great solos from Barrere, Payne, and a relentless pace provided by drummer Richie Hayward, bassist Kenny Gradney, and percussionist Sam Clayton that never lets up. The remaining tracks such as "Why Don't It Look Like The Way It Talk", "Walking As Two", and "Fighting The Mosquito Wars" are decent songs but are very laid back and with their long track lengths could numb you to sleep. Songs like "I Do What The Telephone Tells Me To Do" and "A Night Like This" don't stand out. The album ends with "Bill's River Blues" which although very mellow is a pretty sweet tune along par with the great slower songs that Lowell George once penned for the band. All told, a solid and very well performed album that would have been stronger if a few of the more laid back tunes weren't included.

After 30 years of playing somevery ecclectic rock n roll, Little Feat continues to put out quality material. On Kickin' It On The Barn, the band puts out some varied material that is pure rock n roll with some pleasing country, jazz, and world touches.

I find the touches of the accordion, mandolin, and percussion very appropriate on Corazones y Sombras. The spanish flavoring is oh so pleasing. Night On The Town and the instruemtnal Stomp feature some Grade A jams with Bill Payne's keyboard touches standing out. Heaven Foresaken is another great focused tune with strong guitar passages. However, my favorite tune is the Freddie Tacket sung In A Town Like This. The drumming is just mesmerizing and the guitar solos superb.

My only beef is that there is hardly any contributions from Shaun Murphy. Her one tune, I'd Be Lying is a good one. However, I feel the band is not utilizing their best vocalist enough.

Nonetheless, this is a solid recording from a legendary band.

I've heard it questioned why this band hasn't yet made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While I can't argue they deserve the honor, I can speculate the reason is because they defy categorization, and therefore don't fit into the nice neat little box required in order to be nominated. Sad but true. But if the Feat can live with it, I sure enough can, too.

To quote Paul Barrère, "If music is a conversation between the players then we are talking like never before... and the subject is in the groove."

Little Feat have always defied categorization, playing country, blues, New Orleans jazz, reggae, and pure unadulterated rock and roll, and in Kickin' it at the Barn, the Feat once again prove their diversity. This disc contains something for everyone; highlights include the bluesy I'd Be Lyin', the Spanish flavored Corazones y Sombras featuring Fred Tackett on mandolin and mandocello, the melancholy Fighting the Mosquito Wars, Stomp (an instrumental), the compelling Why Don't It Look Like the Way That It Talk, rocker In a Town Like This, and the funk laden I Do What the Telephone Tells Me To Do (the guitar solo on the latter is worth the price of the CD alone). Once again, the penmanship as well as the musicianship on this latest compilation of Feat tunes is superb.

Yep, the Feat has indeed been kickin' it at the barn, and have they got a lot to say. Highly recommended listening for Feat fans as well as anyone looking to whet their ears with something unique.

For a long-time Little Feat fan, hearing this disc has been like running into an old friend. You share common experiences, but you can never pick up exactly where you left off.

There's no small amount of old-fashioned Feat, but there seems to be a more pensive or melancholy tone to this album. (That's not meant to be a criticism, just pointing out that it's different.)

Only one real dog on this disc which someone else already mentioned. The rest of the tracks showcase these superior musicians' eclectic influences which virtually guarantees that they (still)won't get much radio airplay and the resulting recognition they deserve.

It's a very good disc and worth owning whether or not you're a die hard Little Feat fan. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could.

Very fine studio release from the underappreciated great American band Little Feat. There are some amazing passages scattered all through these songs, great guitar tone and styles, energetic toe-tapping beats, slow smouldering grooves, rockin' funk, doses of world music, hints of gospel and jazz, lots of acoustic touches, great percussion... I've had the CD for several days and am just beginning to find all the little hooks and sweet spots in the tunes. Overall there are lots of solid and diverse grooves from song to song. Bill Payne really shines throughout, as expected, and Paul Barrere has some blistering solos. Fred Tackett does his typical biting leads, some with fresh tones that make them stand out. Guest contributors include Piero Mariani on percussion, Gabriel Gonzales of Quetzal on spanish vocal on Corazones Y Sombras, and Larry Campbell on fiddle.

Highlights for me so far:
I'd Be Lyin'*
Fighting The Mosquito Wars*
Why Don't It Look Like The Way That It Talk
I Do What The Telephone Tells Me To Do - I've heard them tease this in the middle of their live performances of Dixie Chicken
Stomp*
* I've heard them do these live during a show set or during soundcheck.

This CD features 11 new originals from da Feat - check it out! It's great for concentrated listening, or for playing in the background while just hanging out.

If any of Feat's albums reflect the sheer expertise, diversity and technical excellence of this band, I have yet to hear it. As a band, they are without peers, both in the studio and on stage. I've had this CD now for about 2 weeks, and I will agree with one of the other reviewers that Ms Murphy isn't used enough. The intensity of 'Stomp' is hard to describe, how they feed off one another in this tune is pure magic. The almost sarcastic 'I Do What the Telephone Tells Me To Do' is pure Feat. For me, the only waste track is the Spanish-flavored 'Corazones Y Sombras ', where the band does a workmanlike performance only. I find this one boring in the extreme, and, when making a copy of the CD for my car, I left this one off.
All in all, a VERY pleasant experience though....recommended.

An etherial mix of breathtaking tunes, "Kickin' It at the Barn" Features everything from ballads to Mexican Rock & Roll to mariachi guitar with a full-on horn section. Recorded at Fred Tackett's studio in Topanga Canyon, CA, it proved to give the band solace; as not even a cell phone gets reception in the valley. Little Feat's current incarnation was formed by the members of the group in 1986 after an impromptu jam session that ended 7 years of downtime and side-projects. Now free to explore endless creativity fueled by the launch of their label Hot Tomato Records, Little Feat has is setting the standard for Bonaroo's contemporaries, enduring 30 years of constant touring and multiple studio and live album releases. The band consists of Paul Barerre on Slide and vocals, Shaun Murphy on vocals, Fred Tackett on Trumpet and guitars, Ritchie Hayward on Drums, Sam Clayton on percussion & vocals and Kenny Gradney on bass. Walk, run or move on down to the Feat's webpage at www.littlefeat.com. All content copyright www.maximumink.com.

For those of you unlike myself who do not buy every Little Feat Disc released, this is a very good one. While "Under the Radar" and "Chinese Work Songs" have several standouts each, This disc is their best since "Ain't had enough fun" and sound more like the earlier Lowell Years. I was a little disapointed that there was only one lead vocal from Shawn, but it's a good one.

It's been a long wait since the band started their own label to release some new material.. and worth the wait.. there is
no question that these are some of the best musician playing out there today.. and touring and touring and touring.. Fans of the band only need to hear that there is a new release out to go on a feeding frenzy.. and my only complaint is that Shaun didn't get more time on here with her amazing vocals.. hopefully next release.. I was personally hooked hearing her on the 'Ain't Had Enough Fun' CD where she sang half the tunes and she soars on the bands best release 'Live From Neon Park' but you do get a sweet fix from her on this CD.. I believe what makes the band so good is it's diversification.. several vocalist and several styles from gifted musicians.. Can't wait to hear the new stuff live - where the band will truly dazzle anybody.. Thanks for the new tunes.. they are a very welcomed addition...

I've followed the Feat for 30 years and seen them live over 20 times (Lowell and post-Lowell). There has never been any doubt about the musicianship of the band, but they have not consistently been good songwriters since reforming in the late 80s. Kickin It At The Barn marks a turn to a more confident, more mature (funny to say that word...these guys are no spring chickens) style. The songs on the album are strong yet subtle. Corazones Y Sombras is ambitious, but ultimately it was not what I wanted to hear. The only clunker is I Do What the Telephone Tells Me To Do. The playing is good..it's just not lyrically strong. Speaking of lyrics...or the absence of them -- I can't get enough of Stomp. It reminds me of Brothers And Sisters era Allman Bros...but it's definitely authentic Feat. Can't wait to hear it electric and live.