Kingbaby - Whole Lotta Easy (2005)

Singer and guitarist Lance Bulen, founder and leader of Kingbaby, is no stranger to the American rock scene. In fact, he began his musical career when he was just twenty, playing in various bands in the Los Angeles area where he had moved from his native New Orleans. But the period that brought him to prominence was the early 90s when he was part of Baton Rouge, a rock band of some notoriety in the States, with whom he made a couple of albums. Now we find Bulen at his debut with this personal project called Kingbaby. A hard rock/rockblues style with a melodic and refined cut, elegant lines and atmospheres that smell of southern, based on soft tones and rounded sounds rather than rough guitar assaults. Something halfway between the Black Crowes and the Southern Rock Allstars, between Tom Petty and Widespread Panic, certainly a type of sound that can have much more of an impact on the maturity of an adult audience rather than on the angry nervousness of the latest generations. The songs offer a nice variety of solutions, developed and performed with moderation and good taste. We go from the airy rock-fm of "Swan song" to the archaic acoustic swamp-blues "The bones" that transports us to Louisiana at the beginning of the last century, from the southern boogie "Always free" to the subtle almost Zeppelin-esque references of the title-track, and again to the poetic country ballad "The well" that splendidly pays homage to the rural roots of American music. A few empty jokes like the sugary "Sing along" do not affect the general positive impression that much. Although it is worth repeating that the album would be a disappointment for those looking for strong sensations, and even lovers of southern rock should not expect the rough power of Lynyrd or the infinite jam flights of the Allman brothers. This is a good album of honest and quiet classic American rock, to be enjoyed in relaxation or a useful companion for a long trip on the highway.