Search - Kim Simmonds :: Struck By Lightning

Struck by Lightening

Doug | Philadelphia | 05/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a Savoy Brown fan for over 30 years, I still cannot understand why guitar virtuoso Kim Simmonds does not get at least the equal acclaim of his less talented but more famous peers - you know who they are!
I saw Kim live last week in Philadelphia playing an acoustic show. I can't describe it; your solar plexis just stops when you witness this special kind of performance! Every song was stunning - and what an unbelievable version of "Stormy Monday!"
Kim, and friend brushing the snare, played several songs from his new "Struck by Lightning." I was able to get a copy before it hit the market. For acoustic fans, this is a great album. Smooth, consistent, easy to listen to, resonating, far better and more enjoyable than those Buddy Guy acoustic albums.
This record is also well suited to Kim's vocals. They are convincing and strong, especially when combined with great blues guitar runs like on "The Truth Comes Out" or ditto for the old Elvis cover, "So Glad Your Mine." My favorites are "Living in New York," "Don't Know Who to Talk to Anymore" and, "My Home is a Highway." They all have that small blues cafe, live performance flavor to them - a little bounce, a little piano in the background, and completely engaging.
Weaknesses, yeah, in a couple places there's more strumming than there needs to be, but not unpleasant. Less chords and more of those blues licks would be nice, but don't get me wrong there are plenty of nice licks here. Really not a dull or uninteresting cut on this CD. My favorite SB album is "Street Corner Talking." I think "Struck By Lightning" generally has a similar strain of feeling to it as SCT's "All I Can Do is Cry" or "I Can't Get Next to You." If fact, in Kim's acoustic show here he played several SCT songs and it worked wonderfully.
I love this new album!""

Not My Preference

A. Magnus | NY | 08/05/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Would I go down to the Crossroads to learn to play guitar like Kim Simmonds? I'd give it some serious thought. Still, I found this disc dissappointing. Reading the other reviews I thought this was another in the line of terrific acoustic blues albums Kim Simmonds has recorded. It is acoustic blues; but, to my surprise Kim uses a pick instead of the finger-picking style he used to create his first acoustic albums. There's no denying there are some good moments on this disc- My Home is a Highway features some inspired playing as does Road Tramp Blues which includes some complex strumming and nice slide work done in what sounds like an open tuning. Still [and this is probably no more that a personal preference], I don't think this album comes close a CD such as Kim's Blues Before Midnight. Simmonds has great command of his instrument and a love for the blues; when he picks up an acoustic guitar I think that love is best communicated when he plays in the traditional style of the blues greats who preceded and influenced him. Again there are some fine moments here; but, if he is going to use a pick, I'd rather hear Kim Simmonds strap on his electric Gibson- there are real sonic explosions when he does that."

Excellent Production!

deepbluereview | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA | 04/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kim Simmonds, founder of the British blues/rock group Savoy Brown, can sometimes be found playing in small nightclubs performing acoustically. I had the opportunity to see him live in such a setting not to long ago in a Northern California pub. In February of 2004, Kim released this gem as a follow up to 2001's Blues Like Midnight. And is a testament to the fact that he continues to grow artistically. The songs on this disc are easy and enjoyable conjuring up a mixture of acoustic blues, jazz and folk. While some Americana roots music is a little much at times, I can honestly say that there is not a bad song on this disc. For some reason, it took a while-one month-for Amazon to get the disc to me but it was well worth the wait."