Kingston Wall - I (2023 Mix) [Hi-Res]

Leading off with the heavy, acid guitar-drenched "With My Mind," Kingston Wall starts things off in a stirring fashion. Unfortunately, the rest of the album, while it does have its moments, doesn't quite live up to the promise of this track. The band is very tight and intense in songs such as "I'm Not the One," but the chanted "I'm not the one to blame/Not the one to blame!" makes it a little hard to take the track seriously. Similarly, the cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Fire" is sung with such over-the-top exuberance, that it makes it a little funny (assumingly unintentional). Throughout the album, though, the musicianship is stellar, as evidenced on "Nepal" (a staple of their live shows). This first album would be the band's rawest. The reissue with bonus disc includes a live show from 1991, with mostly cover songs, some expected ("Purple Haze"), some unexpected ("Call Me the Breeze," "Rocky Raccoon").