Kimon Kirk – Bikini Jardine – Double CD
There are 15 self-produced tunes on Bikini Jardine (Dropped Oct 31/Dos Kay/CD #1-28:29/CD # 2 – 22:38) that come as a creative die-cut laminated package. The songs maintain their good ideas & clever playing, and the enthusiasm comes through with the excellent thrust of “Dashboard Hula Doll,” where Robbie Fulks (acoustic guitar) adds the vocals with rockabilly brilliance. “The Jessica Triangle” has a nice flow & garage rock appeal.
There are plenty of good basic pop tunes here that are constructed & arranged quite well. L.A. based Kimon Kirk doesn’t have a distinctive voice, but that’s not to say he can’t sing; he can. It’s a pop style vocal that sounds like it’s been on tunes for decades, with stylistically good playing. On CD #1, this is high on decorative strokes. The musicians add lots of clever sounds that add appeal. It works well to capture the ears.
It was written over a productive period & produced by the artist Kimon Kirk. Produced. The Beatles & Pink Floyd had a producer; The Who & The Stones had a producer; Elvis & Dylan had a producer; there was a reason. I believe a singer needs a set of production ears to edit the glut of material an artist brings. It doesn’t hamper the pleasure of listening, but another set of professional ears would have made this exceptional.
Kimon has good song ideas. Kirk (vocals/acoustic, acoustic 12-string & electric guitar/upright bass/keys/percussion) moves from quiet, acoustic songs into heavier tracks (CD #2) with some established bigness. But while the project gets an A for effort & it has a good sound, there are also a few blemishes. It’s like great-tasting pancakes & waffles but needs even more syrup.
“Pasadena” has Jan & Dean sparkle to it & “The Best Cup of Coffee” is good; it would have been even better if it had been more reflective than upbeat. It would have added a sophisticated touch.
Mr. Kirk clearly knows his stuff – but this could’ve been a more superior single-pop album.
Highlights – “Hang In There, Baby,” “Connecticut To California,” “I See You Everywhere I Go,” “Dashboard Hula Doll,” “The Jessica Triangle,” “Dusty,” “Pasadena” & “I Wanna Believe.”
Musicians – Sebastian Aymanns, John Sands, Jeff Bellerose, Tom Polce (drums/percussion), Jebin Bruni (piano/Hammond/keys/synth), Jamie Edwards (keys), Paul Bryan & Jim Haggerty (bass), Michael Eisenstein, Lyle Brewer & Duke Levine (lead guitars), Gaby Moreno & Aimee Mann (vocals), Terry Adams (clavinet), Jim Fetting (electrified & bass harmonicas) & Will Graefe (electric, baritone & nylon string guitars).
CD image courtesy of Myriam Santos. CD @ Bandcamp & https://www.kimonkirk.com/