Reviewed by Roly Johnson-Bell

The talented American who used to plonk on his acoustic at Greenbelt but in more recent times has developed a following stateside for his gospel AOR turns in his sixth or seventh album.  Competent musicianship (love the gob-iron and the sax) and fair production sadly don't compensate for a largely predictable album. Often over-stated themes interspersed with throwaway rhyme padding lyrics wrapped up in a Bruce Springsteen/Dire Straits fusion sound didn't really arrest my attention.  I wondered if the Byrds "All I Really Want To Do" was the influence behind Kenny's "I'll Be A Friend To You"... but he'd have to be my age if that's the case. The two strongest songs for me are both on the theme of family break up.  "Next Time You See Johnny" depicts a young boy's prayer for Jesus to send his daddy home and all that his mother is going through.  "The Threshold Of Regret" examines the effects of scathing rows on the ears of young children and the inevitable split up.  Both ballads, both tear-jerkers but worth singing (even though one might question the wisdom of repeating a similar theme on one album)... look I like the Waltons and I don't care who knows...  But as with so much slickly produced US AOR I was left with the feeling that I hadn't heard the man.  I really don't think I could play it to my non Christian friends.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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