Album Review: Kicklighter - The Fascinating Thinking Machine
When given a second chance in life, some people work to transform their life for the better while others tend to let that chance slip out of their fingers and fall back into their old ways. In the case of Everett Young, a former professor who decided to embark on a solo music journey called Kicklighter, he made sure his second chance would not go to waste.
This project, which began much later for Young than it does for most musicians, was named after the musician’s high school chorus teacher Ray Kickliter. Although the two never fully saw eye to eye, the teacher was the one who essentially taught Young how to sing. What eventually resulted for Young was this project, which carries a vintage sound rooted with a mix between Elvis Costello and Tears For Fears.
With this release, Young’s goal was to create captivating 80’s pop music while still creating thoughtfully written, reflective lyrics. Young introduces the album with “Until You See The Sun,” a song written for his two daughters. He encourages them to find what makes them happy and to live their whole lives working to fulfil that dream. In “Building A Robot,” Young sings of all the human factors added into the system of a robot in order to make it seem more human. And “After The Healing” was written about a recurring dream Young had where he would reunite with his long lost love years down the road and they would mend their broken relationship.
From the jazz-infused “Sultan of Brunei” to the energetic “Says A Tender Mind,” Young traverses various areas of 80’s pop. He also shares a toned-down side of his music with numerous tracks like “Until You See The Sun,” “After The Healing,” “Building A Robot,” and “Saying Goodbye.” These calmer tracks also happen to be some of Young’s most notable work. Not only is this album compiled of crisp recordings, but the songs themselves are also well-composed and well-written. For a guy who has struggled all his life with relationships and work, Young can officially add a positive notch to his belt for this successful release.
Review by Alec Cunningham
Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)