Review Revue: Kirk Kelly - Go Man Go

For instance, today I heard Kirk Kelly's "Go Man Go" for the first time, and I was hooked! How did I, a barely-teenaged fan of Paleface and the Violent Femmes and Billy Bragg, miss this album upon its release? I don't know, but I'm going to have to dig up a copy somehow and make up for lost time. If the Cubs make another run at it next year I'll be the guy singing a slightly altered version of "Go Man Go" instead of their officially sanctioned theme.

Kirk Kelly himself seems to have been pretty quiet of late, which is too bad. We need more righteous folk singers out there these days. Here's hoping that he's just holed up somewhere working on the perfect response to the times we find ourselves in. Go Kirk Go!

"An interesting move for SST, this signing up of folk artists like Kirk & Roger Manning. Is it a trend or is this here to stay? I enjoy this. Sometimes the beatnik stuff seems kind of cliched, but he seems sincere about it. Kind of like that recent Lucinda Williams album in that there's some country twang & bluesy harp added for spice. Produced by B. Ritchie of V. Femmes fame who's cool basswork is prominent on 'Corporation Plow.' Give this a chance! A solid effort & a good candidate for M. Mmmm."

"Erin, what do you think?!"

"K.F., his stuff is more straightforward than Roger Manning (not really quirky) but enjoyable. It's a nice breath of fresh air than the usual new stuff we get even tho it can be cliched. I [heart] a folky guitar!!"

"This is good, varied more than Roger, in my opinion. Play it you old 'folkies.'"

"This is real intellectual folk - you know, music with a conscience. About time too!"