Search - Kim Mitchell :: I Am a Wild Party

Aptly Titled!

Sampson Simpson | Canada | 06/08/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Kim Mitchell's solo career has been spotty to say the least. This live album, however, shines among the rest of his catalogue as a must-have release.I Am A Wild Party (Live) kicks off with the title track, a new studio recording. It's actually an older song from the sessions of his 1986 album (the chorus ends with "I'm shakin' like a human being," referring to the album for which it was written). Here's it's been re-recorded by his then-current band, and in rocking form too. It's the kind of upbeat, fun rocker that Mitchell fans have been craving. A little goofy too, but that's Kim!Live highlights include the old Max Webster classic "Battle Scar". As you may remember, that was Max Webster's team-up with fellow Canadians Rush. Here, bassist/co-lead vocalist Peter Fredette sings Geddy Lee's high parts. He does it extremely well, too. Fredette also sings the high parts on the ballad "All We Are", which many fans consider better than the original studio version. Another new studio track, "Deep Dive", proves again that Kim is in full rocking mode with this album. Shame his studio albums themselves are rarely this consistent! Some more live hits: can't have a Kim party album without "Lager & Ale", "Rock N Roll Duty", and "Go For Soda". Every track is crisp and clear, recorded excellently by his ace band.Normally this kind of album would warrant five stars, no questions asked. This one only gets four. The reason is length. If they'd called this a live EP, I wouldn't have a problem with it being about half an hour in length. But come on, Kim! At this point you had three solo albums, a solo EP, and half a dozen Max albums to draw material from. On I Am A Wild Party (Live) we get 8 tracks: 2 studio, 1 Max, and 5 from your solo back catalogue. When the party sounds this good, you just wish it would last longer."