Kevin Wilson is no stranger to the music scene. He has been playing in bands since he graduated high school, including Liar, Astraroth and Lucian Blaque. His time in these bands, and the time he took off afterward to pursue other things, shaped the songwriter and guitar player that he is today. Self Portrait is his debut solo recording, and is quite an ambitious album project. Some artists are content to offer up the standard thirteen tracks on one disc, but not Kevin. Self Portrait is a double disc showcase of his guitar-playing abilities, with one disc focusing on acoustic arrangements and the other on hard rock. He even employed two different vocalists for the project; Robb Vallier handles the vocals on the acoustic side and Matt Reardon takes over on the hard rock disc.
This album is an impressive undertaking, perhaps too much so. The contrasting style of music between the two discs is like a culture shock to the listener, and with the different vocalists it is like you’ve popped in a CD by a totally different artist. Both albums are strong in their own right. It’s when they are combined in the same set that the disjointed effect sets in.
The acoustic disc, titled 9, has several gems that will take the listener back to the days when Def Leppard and Bon Jovi ruled the charts. Songs like “September Comes” really allow the listener to appreciate Kevin’s playing and songwriting, a perfect example of a power ballad. The lyrics are poetic and Robb does a fine job singing “Moon and sky, free to fly. Chase my fears from my eyes. Visit me in my heart. Awaken me, a brand new start.” You get another taste of Kevin’s songwriting on “Winter In Paradise.” This particular song longs to be a spoken-word piece in another life. “Delusions of splendor, of times gone past. No one left in sight. No one to ask,” are lyrics that belong in clubs where intellectuals gather.
There’s really no faulting Kevin’s songwriting ability. He has a way with words, and when the music is added they make a perfect union. Even on the second disc of heavy-hitting rockers, you get a glimpse at how well he conveys his emotions in song lyrics. The rock disc of Self Portrait, titled 6, is much angrier and angst-ridden. The titles of the songs are enough to clue you in. “Hellhole,” “Angry Again,” and “Tale Of Woe” are three selections banner tracks. Pop this disc in and the guitars come blaring at you, along with Matt’s Eddie Vedder-esque vocals. This disc is full of tracks that make you want to bang your head and crowd surf with true rock energy.
The problem with Self Portrait isn’t in the music, but in the packaging. The differences in the two discs are staggering. One has to be a fan of guitar-based rock to really appreciate this album as a whole. If you don’t like acoustic-sounding power ballads, the first disc won’t be for you, and the same is true of the second disc if you aren’t a fan of hard rock or heavy metal. Releasing the two parts separately would resolve some of the shock that some listeners will feel going between the two discs. However, it is easy to understand why he chose to release the album this way. Kevin’s guitar playing is up there with that of the masters, and in giving his audience the two discs, they can catch a glimpse of his musicianship no matter what style of song he plays.
The album as a whole is still overwhelming, but it is a self-portrait of the talent that Kevin Wilson possesses; a talent that can’t be ignored.
Review by Andrea Guy
