The Title of This CD Says It All
Tom White | Austin, Texas USA | 09/07/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Peter Kingsbery is a rare musical genius, and in fact may be our best songwriter. This CD, "Simply the Best," is a greatest hits compilation of tracks from several of Cock Robin's records from the late 1980's. "Cock Robin" was his band while recording for Columbia, and if music is mostly melody, then the composer who knows the most about music may well be Peter Kingsbery. "When Your Heart Is Weak" and "Because It Keeps on Working," for example, are from the band's great self-titled debut of 1985. "Just Around the Corner" is a hit from the excellent second record, "After Here Through Midland" (1987). "Stumble and Fall" and "Worlds Apart" are from the startlingly brilliant Mariachi influenced third record, "First Love Last Rites," which followed 2 years later, and gets my vote for one of the best-recorded albums in the last century. Kingsbery's voice has been the key--it's dazzling--and he honed composition skills to match this great gift. He also had the insight to work with another amazing singer--Anna LaCazio was the perfect match for the passion of this songwriter's important work. (It's hard to beat a duet sung by a man and a woman with great emotion; Kingsbery and LaCazio did this time and again.) Mr. Kingsbery lives in France and continues to record innovative works in a solo career, working in musical theatre and with different ensembles. "Simply the Best" is a concise look at where he started, and it's exciting to think where this maestro will take us in the next century."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1