By Joshua Wallace

Kyle Keller has released his debut full length LP with All It Does Is Rain.  This is straightforward acoustic folk music.  This album is raw and real with no bells and whistles.  Just a man and his guitar and a few other instruments spread throughout.  This album is full of lost love, sad songs and some good songwriting.  That’s what it pretty much comes down to with a record like this.  Does the artist’s singing voice grab your attention and is the songwriting good? Both are true in this case.  Kyle Keller has a gritty and sometimes deep singing voice that gets the emotions across in every song.

The album kicks off with “Memories & Scars”.  It’s a good introduction to the album in that you know what to expect from here on out.  It’s a good heartbreak song in an album full of heartbreak songs.  “The Devil’s Hammock” changes things up a bit in a ballad where the narrator wishes the black water would carry his worry out to sea.  This song has always been one of my favorites to hear live and I’m glad he has recorded it here.  There is a sense of urgency as the narrator almost begs the sea to take his worry away but leave his flesh and bones.  It’s a great track for anyone who has seen darker times.  “I’ve Known Love” is another favorite about losing that special kind of love.  At the same time, it’s also about knowing all kinds of love, both good and bad.  This is one of two tracks that features Laurence Kingston on piano and that simple addition adds to the production of this track.  Finally, the album closes with “The Spark”.  This song was inspired by events that happened in Charlottesville, VA a few years ago, but it still rings true with events that are currently in the news.  I always lean more to protest songs that while they are inspired by certain events can stand the test of time and be applied to similar things in the future.

Kyle Keller has released one great raw and gritty folk album.  I highly recommend giving this one a spin if you’re a fan of sad songs of all colors.  There’s a bit of variety throughout this record to keep it interesting throughout and you will almost surely find something that draws you back for further listens.  I also have to give a shout out to Abe Partridge for the killer cover art on this one.  You should check out his art if you enjoy the album cover.  Kyle Keller is based out of Gainesville, FL and will be playing shows in that area when they re-start.  Until then, you can find him on Facebook or Twitter and his album is for sale on Bandcamp.  All It Does Is Rain is available everywhere you can stream music as of June 27th, 2020.

Favorite Tracks : Memories & Scars, The Devil’s Hammock, Singing Down In Georgia, I’ve Known Love, Susannah, The Spark

Kyle Keller – All It Does Is Rain (2020)

  1. Memories & Scars
  2. I Hope You’re Gone
  3. I Don’t Love You Anymore
  4. Mama Please
  5. The Devil’s Hammock
  6. Singing Down In Georgia
  7. I’ve Known Love
  8. Susannah
  9. Diamond Eyes
  10. Afraid Of Change
  11. The Spark
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