KINGDOM (Kelly Keeling) – Just A Soul (2013)

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It’s a real pleasure listening Kelly Keeling singing again on the new band KINGDOM, and their debut CD “Just A Soul”.
The man was lately dedicated to play bass on numerous projects, but he owns an enviable pedigree working with John Norum and the Michael Schenker Group, and later becoming famous with Baton Rouge. He was in Blue Murder, Carmine Appice’s Zeus, Don Dokken (acoustic tour) & George Lynch. And many more.

Together with guitarist Kim Roy, bassist Treajure Roy and drummer Jeremy Johnson (the latter two make recently part also of the lesser known but still legendary band Balance), Keeling recorded “Just A Soul” in various studios at his home town in Lafayette, Louisiana.
This is a classic rock affair with a very traditional style, including seventies hard rock, some progressive touches ala early Kansas or Styx, and even some melodic rock elements. The result is a recognizable yet unique sound, always melodic but edgy at the same time.
Of course Keeling shines, but Kim Roy steals the show in many places with his blazing, amazing guitar work.

First song “One Thing” is an impressive tune with driving six-string riffs, a melodious refrain and a classic keyboard pattern. The band rocks Kelly gets loose. Another strong hard rockers are “Could It Be You” including some atmospheric passages, a catchy chorus, a vintage keyboard line and a punchy guitar solo, and later the bluesy yet dynamic “Just A Soul”.
There’s more melodic rock oriented numbers in the midtempo “Someting Great”, the electric / acoustically filled “Any Chance” (love Kelly’s phrases here) akin ’80s Styx, and even they flirt with poppy sounds in the gentle “I’ll Wait”.

“Never Thought” is a sensitive ballad, complete with cello and ethereal keys, remembering Rainbow but much more melodic. One of the highlights. “Because Of You” is another slow tune, very calm and classic, adding nylon guitars and pianos. There’s a touching performance by everyone involved.
Interspersed in between are two good instrumentals, but despite the brevity (below two minutes) in my opinion break the flow of the album. These are the fast “Ambassador Caffery” and the jammin’ “Myxolydian”, where Kim Roy shows his stupendous abilities.

Kingdom is a solid band offering some awesomely hand-crafted classic rock (hard) songs on “Just A Soul”, varied and always interesting. Kelly Keeling is in top form (hasn’t lost none of his magic tones), Kim Roy is a revelation, and the other guys are tight as unit.
Some will be complaining about production, mix and especially the drum sound, but let me tell you: I suspect these tracks were recorded live in the studio, and the feeling, the blood running reaching you in this delivery are truly great. Perhaps with a traditional production these aspects would have been lost along the way, a I like what I hear in this form.
Very Good stuff. Recommended.

01 – One Thing
02 – Someting Great
03 – Any Chance
04 – Could It Be You
05 – Ambassador Caffery
06 – I’ll Wait
07 – Never Thought
08 – Just A Soul
09 – Mixolydian
10 – Because Of You
11 – Papillion De Nuit
12 – On Thing – reprise
13 – Just A Soul – acoustic reprise

Kelly Keeling – Vocals
Kim Roy – Guitar
Jacques LePretre – Keyboards
Treajure Roy – Bass
Jeremy Johnson – Drums

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