kevin so . countryside : the new album

includes june carter cash and five days in memphis and the soon-to-be-classic why am i afraid?

Buy: iTunes or Amazon

Album review by Michael Silversher, February 2, 2015 5:15pm

COUNTRYSIDE is a marvelous album, one of my favorite releases of 2015, filled with heartfelt great songs, great singing and great playing. I've been trying to come up with a clever analogy to describe the music, something like a cross between Brad Paisley and Pat Metheny, but that doesn't quite hit the mark. There are so many well-executed elements to this recording, the description I finally came up with is - simply something you'll love if you're a fan of originality, melody, surprising lyrics and beautiful instrumentation, beautifully played.

On first hearing, my favorite song was June Carter Cash, which is quite a sexy ride with a lot of the feel of Kevin's often cohort, Keb' Mo'.

On further listening, Breakdown and the title track Countryside have started rattling around in my head on a regular basis. Dreamin' Bout Tomorrow is like a long cool drink of water; very refreshing and sustaining. And I love Grateful, co-written by Lisa Aschmann which weaves a gospel web in a different way than I expected.

And I love, love, love Fruits Of My Labor, too, with its Steely Dan horns and positive message of gratitude.

I am also a big fan of Kevin's cover of the Genesis classic, Throwing It All Away, lovely and slowed down from the original.

I highly recommend this lovely release from a wonderful, original voice - Kevin So.

I hope COUNTRYSIDE goes big, countrywide.

To order via mail, please send a $16.50 check payable to Kevin So:

Kevin So, PO Box 111823, Nashville, TN 37222-1823

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