KIM MITCHELL – The Big Fantasize (2020 El Mocambo Records)
13 years ago Kim Mitchell released Ain’t Life Amazing, his last studio album. He wasn’t exactly quiet in that time — there was his radio show on Q107 in Toronto, but then he had a heart attack! You can’t keep Kim Mitchell down, and his new one The Big Fantasize is a quieter collection of contemplative music. Some of it is rock, some of it is clearly not. And that’s OK. Whether or not he’s rocking, Kim’s songwriting yielded some pretty great material. There are nine new tunes, plus a bonus four live tracks for those who bought the physical product (CD or LP).
The gentle call of a clarinet is the first sound to be heard on the new Kim, a surprise to be sure. “Red Horizon” is a sparse acoustic ballad with clarinet accompaniment, and melody that tugs at the heart. It’s a brave way to open the album but also an honest one. “This is what I do now, so don’t expect ‘Rock and Roll Duty Part 2′” is what this track says as an opener.
That said, “2up2Bdown” has that guitar playing you love Kim for. It rocks but in a new slick way. It would have fit comfortably on an album like 1992’s Aural Fixations, but better than that. It’s a celebration, and if it’s the only track that sounds like “old Kim” then at least it does it well.
“Summer Lovers Autumn Wine” presents quiet electric guitars and pianos dancing in the twilight. Like much of Kim’s music, it paints an audio picture with his guitar. The mood turns bright on the delightful acoustic “Wishes”. Kim’s mastery of melody and expression is apparent. He gets the beat hopping again on “Georgian Bay”, a piano rocker with no guitar, maybe a little bit like the Guess Who? Or maybe that’s just a lazy comparison. It doesn’t matter, it’ll be perfect for your next summer deck party (whenever that is).
“Best I Never Had” might be laid back, but it has a strong dusky blues vibe. Soulful backup singing lends the right feel. “Montgomery” is a highlight song, mixing some skillful acoustic guitar pickin with the most memorable of melodies. Upbeat, but quiet and gentle with trademark Mitchell hooks. The acoustic solo is masterful. More masterful melody takes center stage on “Old Marriage Waltz”, the closer “Time to Stay” really overshadows it. A strong beat behind him, Kim picks away with intent. Great light rocker to end a terrific album, on an upbeat note.
CD and vinyl buyers get the four live bonus tracks: “Lager and Ale”, “Rocklandwonderland”, “Paradise Skies” (Max Webster tune), and “All We Are”. If you needed more rock, here you go. Firey live performances, captured in the studio in front of an audience. “Rocklandwonderland” stands out with a new piano intro and a passionate performance. However nothing can overshadow an epic “All We Are”, 8:13 of awesome.
After such a long wait, and an eventful one at that, it is a good thing to see that Kim Mitchell still has the creative spark to write a great song. These songs are different but just as unforgettable as “Patio Lanterns”.
4.5/5 stars
Wow, 13 years between solo albums and he still delivers quality…gotta love that. Good on him and great review.
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I don’t think this is an album that would turn you around on Kim, but it’s nothing at all like Max.
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Ha!!
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A real fine release from Akimbo. Those live tunes are cool as you basically allude to the fact that Kim changed them up a bit. Lager and Ale is another one.
13 years and if this is his last studio album it’s a great bookend to a stellar career!
Must also give some kudos to Peter Fredette who can still belt out All We Are!
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All We Are is epic! 8 minutes long! Peter even gets a nice picture inside the CD as you can see as well. Good — he deserves it!
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Been with him since pretty much 84
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On backing guitar until Rockland when he switched to bass!
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Peter was with Cochrane during Tom’s hey day
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Not a bad time to be a bassist. Meanwhile Kim was working with Spider Sinnaeve!
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Some guys have no trouble finding work. Spider was one of those guys.
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Be careful mentioning artists getting lots of work, Deke. Remember what happened with He Who Shall Not Be Named? And when you apologize, they gaslight you.
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Yeah true.
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I thought you were gonna say, “Don’t jinx these guys getting work!” We are going into lockdown Dec 26, for 28 days.
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The literal apocalypse could be at our doorstep, and I’d still be making jokes about Billy being an asshole to Deke.
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I got an email about that when I mentioned it in our DLR chat a couple Fridays ago. Fortunately the email was from a friend, but a huuuuuge Billy fan. Or, should I say former Billy fan?
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lol all good man. I’m way over that Rando
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I hope you don’t mind me mentioning him, Deke. The laughs are always at his expense for being so rude to you. But I’d understand if you’d rather not be reminded, even if it is to poke fun at him and his dickish behavior.
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It’s my fault for bringing him up two weeks ago! Opening old wounds. But then again I also had to bring up Ray Gillen this past week, kinda killed the buzz.
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Nah man all good. It makes me laugh really. Guys an asshat. I won’t mention his name ever in print. lol
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I can’t for youe Mr. Big review. I want a piece of that!
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Coming in 2021! lol
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Harrison was giving himself a beating in our chats after that show said he felt bad putting Badlands on his list after he found out. And he felt double bad because of the Johnny Depp Amber he said she said thing brought about by his mentioning Hollywood Vampires as well.
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I didn’t want him to feel bad, that was my doing :(
One thing I noticed about Depp, on my social media, male and female, support for him is unanimous. I just don’t wanna wade in there. I don’t know enough to have an opinion so I’ll stay far away!
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Johnny doesn’t seem like he’d hurt a fly, only a hotel room. He’s weird and quiet.
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It’s regrettable though. I mean I saw photographs of him that I didn’t wanna see.
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Yes a bad situation all around. No winners there.
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Good way of putting it. No winners. Harrison points out that Alice Cooper is one stand up individual which I agree with. So him standing by Johnny Depp says something.
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Also I don’t think I caught that show, so I missed you chastising Billy the Bitch Boy. I brought it up on my own accord.
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It was on the T-Bone show where we dissected Skyscraper. I was probably at fault for bringing him up. I’m usually the one at fault when it comes to the live streams.
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Can’t wait for Billy to read or see one of these videos/comments and then utilize the power of Xenu to smite us.
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You might be waiting a billion years. That’s when their contract expires.
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I’ll bring a lawn chair and a cooler. At the end of all time it’ll just be me, the cockroaches, and the cooler. Waiting for Billy & his Lord Xenu.
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Or Billy Lourd. She’s cool.
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All good dude.
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I saw this in the shoppes and immediately thought of you and Deke! I’ll get this someday, I’ve got a wee Kim collection going here, and a 4.5 from Lebrain is good enough for me!
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When you sent me that message, I was still getting updates from the official Kim store saying their stock still hadn’t arrived. Ah well! I prefer buying from the artist when possible.
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Oh absolutely. Ha I remember texting you. From Walmart. Looking at Kim Mitchell’s new 2020 album. One of those moments.
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I always have a bit of trepidation when there’s a long break between releases – glad to hear his health has returned & that Kim’s quality never left!
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This is not a “Soda Democracy” type gap. But he obviously spent some serious time working on the songs. You can hear the effort that went into the recording.
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Good to know that Kim still has it and is doing well. I was really worried when I heard about the heart attack.
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I honestly figured that meant early retirement for Kim!
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Me too!
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Not familiar with Mitchell, Canadian?
Just ran into this:
remember this?
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Kim’s a canuck. Max Webster used to play with Rush!
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A very rare instance of both FULL bands playing on one track! We prayed Kim would come up and play Battle Scar at the Rush tour closer in 97.
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Remember it? Why, I have the EP!
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