Simple Kid 2 is enthralling from beginning to end. Simple Kid (Ciaran McFeely) was born in Cork County, Ireland. He grew up listening to British rock giants Led Zeppelin and the Who. These legends inspired him to follow in their footsteps and become a musician. His first band was a disastrous hair metal band and he ended up homeless on the West Coast. He tumbled his way home and created his first album plainly titled Simple Kid. The rest is history. Simple Kid 2 consists of bluesy guitar riffs, country stomp twang and banjos, pulsating drum machine rhythms, and cosmic synth backgrounds. Each of these styles is very reminiscent of Beck. The lyrics even borrow the same shambled and shackled feel of the Beckionary, to quote Futurama. Each track is laden with crackling addictive melodies and deep soulful stories of his life experiences.
The entire album is recorded on an 8 track, which creates the distinct raw sound. It begins with an opener named ‘Lil’ King Kong,’ which is a bluesy and banjo-ridden affair heavily influenced by Beck. The blues mayhem continues on to the next track ‘Self Help Book’ which possess a great hook and has sing along written all over it. The gears shift on the third track ‘Twenty Something,’ which is filled with heartfelt lessons learned from life. Arguably the album’s highpoint, ‘Seretonin,’ flows with cascading rhythms and melodies that preach about the dangers of fame and not being you. Last but certainly not least the tracks, ‘Mommy and Daddy’ and ‘Love’s an Enigma,’ bring the album to gritty and brash conclusion laced with soulful writing.
When is all is said and done “2” is a mind blowing experience that would leave Beck choking on his Wheaties. “2” is one of the best albums I’ve heard in recent memory.
