Search - Kimmie Rhodes :: Walls Fall Down

Rhodes' "Walls" Has Its Moments

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 07/21/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: I've Been Loved By You, If I Needed You, Sex and Gasoline



As a songwriter, Kimmie Rhodes is in a class of her own. Evidenced by her compositions such as "I Just Drove By" (Wynonna Judd), "One Love" (Trisha Yearwood) and "Hard Promises to Keep" (Trisha Yearwood), she has a way with the pen when she utilizes melodic constructions to give expressions to the longings of the heart. So, what's Rhodes like as a singer? Never given to dramatic vocal gymnastics, Rhodes has an understated demeanor with a weather-worn agility calling to mind Shawn Colvin and a sturdier Julie Cruise. In short, Rhodes has the sweet voice of a child emanating from an old soul. "Walls Come Down" is this Texan songbird's 12 studio album, this time it contains 3 covers including Townes Van Zandt's "If I Needed You," the Beatles' "The Fool on the Hill" and Rodney Crowell's forthcoming album title cut "Sex and Gasoline," with the rest coming from Rhodes' scribal kit with a few co-writers including Irishmen Brenda Murphy and Kieran Goss.



Never being a purveyor of modern trends, Rhode continues to mine her own style of folk country. And in today's relentless churning of non-melodic gibberish, "I've Been in Love By You" is the badly needed elixir to the country format. With a simple yet seductive melodic line, Rhodes draws us into the blessed feeling of being love enhanced by her sweet little girl-like vocals. On the other hand, the insistent, gritty rhythm on electric guitars of Rodney Crowell's "Sex and Gasoline" is a sharp contrast. "Sex and Gasoline" is a biting social commentary of how our decrepit world views aging especially that of women. Such brutal confession is again surfaced on the title cut "Walls Come Down," this time finding Rhodes fusing over the futility of wars apparently found in the name of gods. On her own version of the Townes Van Zandt's classic "If I Needed You," Rhodes' take has an acoustic feel augmented with her vulnerability that adds a layer of freshness to this often recorded tune.



However, as hinted earlier, Rhodes loves us to use her songs as political platforms to air her dissatisfaction with the Bush administration. The caustic "Your Majesty" is a pretty in your face diatribe against the President when Mr. Bush is almost maligned as the anti-Christ of sorts. Sure there is a place for free speech, but Rhodes' over unsubtle attack meshed with overtly Biblical imageries is just a tad over the top. Also, read in such a corpus of political rhetoric, it makes sense why she would record the Beatles' "The Fool on the Hill." "Last Seven Seconds" is another example of insipid songwriting--on this track, she tries to describe life on earth in its penultimate moments. At best, the lyrics are cartoonish. Further, the funereal delivery and the dirge-like melody make this track extremely dull. The same can be said of "Beautiful" which has a melody that lingers on and on.



"Walls Fall Down" has its moments. Rhodes seems to be at her best when she keeps things simple and when she writes of relationships in its stark beauty and forlorn grievances. Unfortunately, her dabbling with apocalyptic speculation and her political renderings seem uncalled for. Not her best effort, but still worth the listen.

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