Search - Steve Almaas :: Kingo a Wild One

Another great solo album from former Beat Rodeo star

James Huie | Portland, OR ... | 04/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the 4th and to my ears possibly the best solo album from Mr. Almaas, a musician with a long and varied career. Steve got his start in the Suicide Commandos, a pioneering punk outfit in Minneapolis in the late 70's. Following that band's demise, he moved to NYC and formed the seminal country influenced group, Beat Rodeo. After a successful EP produced by Mitch Easter and released on the Coyote label, Beat Rodeo was signed to IRS Records, working with producer Scott Litt (R.E.M., Indigo Girls, Patti Smith, Nirvana). While his songwriting continued to mature, but Almaas' style of pre-alt-country was at odds with the 80's styles of big haired metal and synth pop.Following the demise of Beat Rodeo, Steve performed regularly at NYC's Ludlow Cafe with a varied all-star backing band and crafted the songs that became his first solo album, East River Blues, released to great acclaim in Sweden.After a 2 more solo albums released in Europe, Kingo finds Steve once again working with co-producer Mitch Easter and a stellar backing band, the Ministers of Sound (including Jon Graboff on guitar, bassist Mark Sidgwick, and drummer Doug Wygal). It also marks a reunion with bassist Dan Prater from Beat Rodeo on a number of tracks. Kingo A Wild One is musically upbeat, with a soulful country-tinged sound that reminds me of the best work of NRBQ. Every song here is catchy and memorable. Fans of Ryan Adams and the current crop of Alt-Country/ No Depression bands would find a lot to enjoy by exploring this great album and the catalog of work from this fine pioneering artist."