Search - Little Feat :: Kickin It at the Barn

A solid effort

John Alapick | Wilkes-Barre, PA United States | 04/17/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Kickin' It At The Barn shows Little Feat continuing to expand their musical horizons. While their musicianship continues to be impressive and the performances here are first rate, the songwriting is somewhat inconsistent with most of the best songs comprising the album's first half.



The album starts out strong with "Night On The Town" and "Heaven Foresaken." Paul Barrere's lead vocals on these tracks are as smooth as ever and Bill Payne's piano work on the former continues to be first rate. The female backing vocals add a nice touch to these tracks. In another time when radio emphasized music over image, "Heaven Foresaken" would have been a hit. "I'd Be Lyin" is a blues shuffle which spotlights Shaun Murphy's soaring lead vocals. The band continue to add to their musical stew with the Mexican sounds of "Corazones y Sombras" which is one of the best tracks here. The true standout on the album is the instrumental "Stomp", a killer 9-minute fusion jam which features great solos from Barrere, Payne, and a relentless pace provided by drummer Richie Hayward, bassist Kenny Gradney, and percussionist Sam Clayton that never lets up. The remaining tracks such as "Why Don't It Look Like The Way It Talk", "Walking As Two", and "Fighting The Mosquito Wars" are decent songs but are very laid back and with their long track lengths could numb you to sleep. Songs like "I Do What The Telephone Tells Me To Do" and "A Night Like This" don't stand out. The album ends with "Bill's River Blues" which although very mellow is a pretty sweet tune along par with the great slower songs that Lowell George once penned for the band. All told, a solid and very well performed album that would have been stronger if a few of the more laid back tunes weren't included."

Still Kickin'

G. J Wiener | Westchester, NY USA | 04/11/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After 30 years of playing somevery ecclectic rock n roll, Little Feat continues to put out quality material. On Kickin' It On The Barn, the band puts out some varied material that is pure rock n roll with some pleasing country, jazz, and world touches. I find the touches of the accordion, mandolin, and percussion very appropriate on Corazones y Sombras. The spanish flavoring is oh so pleasing. Night On The Town and the instruemtnal Stomp feature some Grade A jams with Bill Payne's keyboard touches standing out. Heaven Foresaken is another great focused tune with strong guitar passages. However, my favorite tune is the Freddie Tacket sung In A Town Like This. The drumming is just mesmerizing and the guitar solos superb. My only beef is that there is hardly any contributions from Shaun Murphy. Her one tune, I'd Be Lying is a good one. However, I feel the band is not utilizing their best vocalist enough.Nonetheless, this is a solid recording from a legendary band."

Fine Addition to the Feat Legacy

J. Conrad Guest | Northville, MI United States | 11/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've heard it questioned why this band hasn't yet made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While I can't argue they deserve the honor, I can speculate the reason is because they defy categorization, and therefore don't fit into the nice neat little box required in order to be nominated. Sad but true. But if the Feat can live with it, I sure enough can, too.To quote Paul Barrère, "If music is a conversation between the players then we are talking like never before... and the subject is in the groove."Little Feat have always defied categorization, playing country, blues, New Orleans jazz, reggae, and pure unadulterated rock and roll, and in Kickin' it at the Barn, the Feat once again prove their diversity. This disc contains something for everyone; highlights include the bluesy I'd Be Lyin', the Spanish flavored Corazones y Sombras featuring Fred Tackett on mandolin and mandocello, the melancholy Fighting the Mosquito Wars, Stomp (an instrumental), the compelling Why Don't It Look Like the Way That It Talk, rocker In a Town Like This, and the funk laden I Do What the Telephone Tells Me To Do (the guitar solo on the latter is worth the price of the CD alone). Once again, the penmanship as well as the musicianship on this latest compilation of Feat tunes is superb.Yep, the Feat has indeed been kickin' it at the barn, and have they got a lot to say. Highly recommended listening for Feat fans as well as anyone looking to whet their ears with something unique."