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Kyle Vincent “Where You Are”
by Beverly Paterson in Album Reviews
Kyle Vincent “Where You Are” (Song Tree 10-021209-2)
Growing up in Berkeley, California, Kyle Vincent was seduced by the music bug at a very early age. By the time he was eight years old, he was playing saxophone in school jazz bands and later took lessons from guitar god Joe Satriani. Come the eighties, Kyle moved to Los Angeles, where he attracted a bit of attention with Candy, whose lone album, “Whatever Happened To Fun,” has rightfully been hailed a pop classic. Kyle then embarked on a solo career, resulting in a string of divine discs that duly won him a hardcore fan base. He eventually scored a top twenty hit single with “Wake Me Up (When The World’s Worth Waking Up For),” and has also performed and recorded with many different artists, ranging anywhere from Barry Manilow to Bryan Adams to The Bay City Rollers. While Kyle is clearly well versed and talented in just about every genre imaginable, there’s little argument his passion lies with pop music.
Here on Kyle’s most recent album, “Where You Are,” we’re treated to a shimmering showcase of gorgeous keyboard flourishes, whirling saxophone fills and endless streams of hooks. Kyle’s voice, which is smooth and expressive, reminds me a lot of Tommy James. His lyrics are personable and read like short stories. The title track of the record, which owes a tip of the cap to the dreamy harmonics of The Beach Boys, shares the tale of a big star who’s spoiled and “tragically out of touch,” while the bright and sunny “It’s Gonna Be A Great Day” promotes good will and optimism. Cranking the volume a couple of notches, “Goin’ Down” crackles and crunches with peppy power pop action, where tunes such as “It’s A Lonely World” and “In Another Life” (featuring Tommy Dunbar of The Rubinoos on guitar) firmly stress Kyle’s fabulous flair for bringing words to life and applying them to sturdy arrangements. His sweeping piano work, which bears a strong resemblance to that of Richard Carpenter, further adds something special to the sessions. Majestic and moving, “Where You Are” glistens and glitters with pure pop perfection. As usual, Kyle has created yet another collection of classy songs destined to stand the test of time.
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