Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kim Mitchell is alive and well!, February 23, 2000
By A Customer
It's a shame that the only Kim Mitchell song that was heard south of Buffalo, Detroit, or other states along the Canadian Border was "Go For Soda". This song is classic Kim, but there are so many other great songs and albums that he's done since the release of akimbo alogo in 1984. This album is Kim at his best, but I also recommend Rockland, his only US album, Aural Fixations, Itch and his new album Kimosabe. It's a shame that Amazon.com and other US record stores do not have more of his albums in stock.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still a great party album, June 10, 2006
A lot of old-school Max Webster fans were dissapointed in this, Kim Mitchell's first full-length solo album. It's easy to see why, because Akimbo Alogo is pretty straight-forward rock. There's not a trace of that prog or experimentation that made Max Webster such a unique creature. However, those fans were too quick to judge.
Akimbo Alogo (great title) still stands up on its own as Kim's finest solo album. Back in that hazy summer of 1984 it spawned four hit videos: "Lager & Ale", "That's A Man", the fantastic ballad "All We Are" and of course, the immortal "Go For Soda".
The only holdover from the Max days is lyricist Pye Dubois, spinning words as only he could, with humour and poetry. "All We Are" was written during the tail end of Max, but Kim knew nobody in that band could sing the high notes in the chorus. Along comes Peter Fredette, a talented musician and singer in his own right. Peter joined Kim's band and stayed throughout all the 80's. His vocal made this song something truly special.
Of course, Kim's guitar playing is among some of the best he's ever laid down on vinyl, and that includes the Max stuff. His soloing here is vibrant and warm. Nobody can copy Kim's guitar stylings, and he's at his best here.
There's also a minimum of synth programming going on here, which Kim got a little too carried away with on his next album, Shakin' Like A Human Being. I'm not sure why Kim thought it was a good idea to start doing stuff like that anyway, but at this point he hadn't gotten too carried away with it...yet.
A couple qualms with this CD reissue:
I wish the LP cover art with Kim in stripey spandex was used. It's funny, it's dated, but it was 1984! Surely it doesn't matter that he looked rediculous. I'm glad I have the LP.
I also wish this CD had been digitally remastered. My vinyl sounds better than the CD.
Having said that, no fan of classic Canadian rock and roll should be without this album. Even the diehard Max fans who haven't listened to Kim since the demise of that band will find a lot to love here. You're missing out if you don't get to hear this album. You really are.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
why isn't this available?!!!!, June 23, 2004
By A Customer
I first heard him opening for Jethro Tull on the "A" tour, and then heard him, as most fans did, through the Max Webster collaboration with Rush on "Battlescar". A couple of years later I heard "Go for Soda" on the radio. Bought the thing on tape and immediately loved it. The songs run from the out and out rockers ("Go for Soda", "Lager and Ale" (he seems to have a thing for beverages), and "Rumour Has It") to the sweet power ballads (All We Are), and everywhere in between. Now I'm looking for it on CD and can't find the damned thing.
His band smokes on this, the drummer in particular. Kim's guit playing is as good, if not better than most, but not overbearing, like some. The lyrics are wry, funny, and somewhat articulate.
This is a fun disc for anyone who likes (Diamond Dave)Van Halen, Primus, Rush, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, or anyone who just wants to play it LOUD and have some fun.
PLEASE RELEASE THIS ON A DOMESTIC CD!!!!
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by Kim Mitchell 
