Search - Keb Mo, Keb' Mo' :: Peace...Back By Popular Demand

What goes around... comes back again

S. Jones | Chicago, IL United States | 10/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording of peace songs of the 1960's and 70's is well performed. Don't expect the music of Keb Mo you're used to. This isn't a blues recording. These are peace oriented folk, rock and pop songs from the past. They are meant to remind us of lessons of the past.



The recordings of 'For What It's Worth,' 'Wake up Everybody,' 'People Got to be Free,' and 'Someday We'll all be Free' are as good or better than the originals. 'Imagine' is well done as well.



The Keb and accoustic piano version of 'The Times They Are a'Changin' without accompaniment is particularly striking.



"

Ya gotta know why this album's here

L. Bowman | Seattle, WA | 09/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Peace...Back By Popular Demand was written as a social statement by the great Keb Mo (aka Kevin Moore).



This whole social consciense thing isn't new for Mr. Moore. He's inserted songs into his previous offerings, for example, Victim of Comfort, an environmental screed.



In case you've been living in a cave lately you should know he's just appeared in Seattle live as part of 'Vote for Change', on 9/27/04. Along with his good friends Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne Keb kicked it out for peace, love, and understanding. He, after some gentle urging from Jackson Browne, played one song from this new set, What's So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding.



This is a set of covers, for the most part, but done in Keb's original style. You can't go wrong."

A Weird Coincidence of A Circle, or Is It

Michael D. Williams | Southern California | 11/17/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I had seen Kevin Moore, AKA Keb Mo many years ago at a live concert. This was when he was mainly doing Robert Johnson like tunes. He blew me away with how much he sounded and looked like Robert Johnson. My wife and I were so impressed that she interviewed him for a magazine. This was long before he was popular. After his first album, he developed the easy going pop blues style he is now famous for.



We too find his latest CD Peace...Back By Popular Demand to be a bit of an odd turn for him. But then he does have experience with Pop and Rock music. Long before his Keb Mo days he co-wrote a song for the Jefferson Starship and performed in Papa John Creach's solo band. This CD is certainly not Kevin's best effort but I think I understand why he decided to record these songs.



I think, like a lot of people do, that he feels this election year has shown that there is a lot of division in America. I feel this is his way of expressing his feelings about what he thinks is happening in the USA. He as others have gone back to the Sixties and Seventies for inspiration and possible answers. We need to protest for what we feel is right. These songs are positive ways of dealing with difficult cultural feelings. Many music artists these days have gone full circle back to the Nineteen Sixties to look for inspiration or honor the music that originally inspired them. Oddly, and I am sure for the same reasons the alternative rock band A Perfect Circle has released a similar (in content) set of songs but in a very different style. APC also takes several old "protest" songs but makes a very dark statement. Infact some of these arrangments are so dark and scary that they sound like they were by the related band metal alt. Tool. Weirdly, they covered two of the same songs as Keb Mo did, "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding" and "Imagine." But they are different from Keb Mo's and the originals as night and day. Actually I'd love to hear a similar album from Ben Harper. He might actually further his art with such covers. Keb Mo is best with the blues.



- Mike"