[FM] FAME Review: Terry Kitchen's Blues for Cain & Abel written by Matthew S. Robinson

[David N. Pyles]

[Note:  This CD was released in 1999.  It was on the FAME list of CDs to 
review for a long time before one of our volunteer reviewers chose to write 
review it.  Dave Pyles]

Blues for Cain & Abel
Terry Kitchen
http://www.folkzone.com/terrykitchen.html

Urban Campfire 1006

Urban Campfire
P.O. Box 440171
West Somerville, MA 02144
terrykit@aol.com

A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Matthew S. 
Robinson (mrobin5773@aol.com)

Taking the original sibling rivalry as a jumping-off point, Terry Kitchen 
uses his fifth album to consider great conflicts throughout the ages. From 
the personal difficulties of facing addiction ("Come Back To Me") and 
solitude ("The Year of Living Lonely") to the more communal trials of 
religious persecution ("Martin Luther") and acts of God ("Heimaey"), 
Kitchen deals delicately yet honestly with delicate and honest issues 
anyone might have to grapple with. Bridging the gap between musical 
storyteller and poetic musician, Kitchen combines familiar snatches with 
original ideas in provocative and clever ways. "Bethlehem" uses a  timeless 
Christmas theme as the coda-suggested underscore for some very timely 
family reminiscences. "You Always Got There First" layers stories of peer 
pressure and faster living over a melody taken from "Angel of the Morning." 
Most notable, however, is Kitchen's impressivley original take on the 
Lennon-McCartney "prayer" "Let It Be." Though he may reach a bit too far 
for some ideas, lyrics and notes, Kitchen's capable support team (which 
includes Phyllis Capana's Catie Curtis-esque vocals along with mandolinist 
Eric Gerber, bass man Seth Connelly, key woman Alizon Lissance and penny 
whistler Billy Novick) keep him in a strong melodic line for the most part. 
Putting across a hard look at the world through his gentle, open voice and 
well-arranged instrumentation, Kitchen makes introspection palatable and 
change possible.

Atlas  4:35
Come Back to Me  4:00
Noah & the Selfish Son  4:11
Bethlehem  4:06
Blues for Cain & Abel  4:26
The Year of Living Lonely  4:00
Martin Luther  3:14
A Perfect Rose  3:58
You Always Got There First  5:04
Heimaey  3:59
Good Friday  3:15
The Quiet Earth  4:04
Let It Be  4:52 (Hidden)

All songs by Terry Kitchen, urban campfire music, BMI except 13. by John 
Lennon & Paul McCartney, Sony/ATV Songs LLC (MacLen Special Catalog), BMI.

Edited by: David N. Pyles (dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)

Copyright 2000, Peterborough Folk Music Society. This review may be 
reprinted with prior permission and attribution.
=====================
David N. Pyles
acousticmusic.com
P. O. Box 459
Brattleboro, VT 05302-0459
(802) 257-0336 Mon-Thur 9:30am-4:30pm
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames/fame.htm
=====================
some people think they got nothin' to say
they're just wishin the world would go another way
some people need to know the fire burns
in everybody's belly that's ever been born

raise your voice, don't leave it on the ground
raise your voice, let your hair hang down
raise your voice, make a lotta noise
make a whole lotta noise lemme hear the sound
make a whole lotta noise lemme hear the sound

 From "Raise Your Voice" by Tina Lear