CD Review of...
Kevin Roper
Brand New Town
By: Kiki Alexander
Kevin Roper’s jumped from ship to ship as far as careers go, from ski lift operator to basketball coach.
Now, with the release of his solo debut, Brand New Town, Roper displays an elemental flair for combining the principles of folk, rock, pop and even hints of country on tracks like Back To Me with a satisfying lyrical balance. On the opening track, You And I, Roper recalls a past relationship with regretful hindsight from a jealous yet hopeful stance. His sound brings to mind the musical approach of bands like The Counting Crows and Hootie and The Blowfish with a more down-to-earth vibe. However, although he draws similarities from all over the musical spectrum, Roper is an all-original, blending the slide guitar, organ, and even the mandolin into a unique but friendly pop-rock style.
The third song, Tired is a striking piano driven track which builds up delicately, slow and shy, breaking into a grandeur of broken emotions translated through the culmination of frenzied piano which ultimately settles back peacefully with the accompanying drums and acoustic guitar.
Also notable (although the only track on the album that Roper did not contribute to as far as writing) is Did You Enjoy It? A self conscious, even lonely song expressing the longing and need to feel fulfilling within a relationship, whose closing line states “I hate consistency, that’s why I have to leave”
The only pressing flaw is the fact that at times Roper tends to use lyrics like clichéd and overused pick-up lines, take for instance the song Long Time where he sings “Words can not explain this pain I feel inside,”. Albeit the occasional more-than-obvious lyric, Brand New Day is testament to the fact that Roper was certainly not destined to be a ski lift operator his whole life.