Keep an Eye Out
Jeff Krebs
Head Information
2000
12 tracks
Jeff Krebs is hard to pin down. His music is wide-ranging, reflecting an eclectic mix of influences from the country and bluegrass songs he learned as a child in Michigan's Upper Peninsula through Latin American rhythms, Sixties folk music, and pure pop music. This is music not really tied to genre, yet it feels as though it should be easier than it is to categorize. The closest I can come is to say that it falls somewhere along that continuum between Sixties folk-rock and contemporary folk-rock. Maybe.
In both performance and lyrical content, this feels like old music. Although the songs are more reflective of later decades, this release evokes Fifties radio programs with their easy mix of musical genres. Listening to these songs, I keep getting flashbacks to artists as diverse as Xavier Cugat, Ritchie Valens, Bob Dylan, Donovan, James Taylor, The Drifters [Sixties version], and several late Fifties and Early Sixties rock and roll bands.
"ˇExtravagaria!" begins as a very up-tempo piece, Latin guitar underlined by a clicker-sound reminiscent of The Diamonds' version of "Little Darling" from the mid-Fifties. With the introduction of more electronic effects on the guitar plus some rocking drums, the song hardens into something like the rocking Latinate instrumentals played by Ritchie Valens. As more effects are added to the guitar and a flowing, reverbed organ line comes in, the song moves toward the futuristic sound introduced by The Tornadoes with "Telstar" in the early Sixties. All that, and it actually works.
Krebs' new interpretation of "Tango Della Rose" brings the listener back to Ritchie Valens. Although his hit song "La Bamba" may lock Valens in the minds of many listeners as an up-tempo rock and roller, he sang many sweet love songs with a decidedly Latin flavour. Krebs' approach here, both the instrumentation and his sweet vocal, embodies the spirit of those old Valens album cuts.
While still sweet, "Another Piece" has more the mood of a Donovan Leitch release, circa 1965, right down to the ersatz Bob Dylan harp thrown in for accent. This is a beautiful song, well-executed. While there is a fair amount of orchestration going on here, it's never allowed to draw attention from the vocal, from the story being told.
"Problem by the Door" is another song with a sweet, folky feel to it. The vocal has about the same timbre and emotional resonance of early James Taylor releases. The guitar is folky and underlines the vocal with a Latin rhythm. Although the overall feel is of a modern singer-songwriter folk song, this interpretation brings to mind songs like "Under the Boardwalk" and "Save the Last Dance for Me" made popular by The Drifters. In fact, there is some similarity in the chorus of "Problem by the Door" and the chorus of that latter Drifters song.
The title song is more of an American roots-rocker with Scots/Irish influences. After the very Celtic-sounding solo-banjo intro, this song takes on a big sound with solid rock drums driving it forward. The vocal is still sweet and somewhat folky, but it has more of a rock and roll edge. "Keep an Eye Out" make an ideal opening song for this set.
"Emily Take It Back" is more new country than anything else, rocking along with countrified electric guitar and honky-tonk piano. Even the lyric story (she's left; he wants her back) cries out for a country music treatment.
The set closes with another quieter number that falls somewhere between slow rock, sentimental country music, and early James Taylor. "Sweet Dreams" is a calming lullaby to end the day. After a rollicking and varied set, the listener is walked back to the door and out of the theatre into the street. When all is said and done, it's been an enjoyable hour of music.
For more information on Jeff Krebs and his music, pay a visit to jeffkrebs.com.
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Review written: April 21, 2003
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