Kevin Salem - Soma City (1994)

Kevin Salem is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He began his career as a member of Dumptruck, and subsequently played with multiple artists on tour, including Yo La Tengo and Freedy Johnston, before beginning his solo career.

Despite the merits of Kevin Salem's debut solo album, it's difficult to get past his association with that other no-frills guitar-playing singer-songwriter with a receding hairline. Compared to Freedy Johnston, Salem's neither as engaging nor as dynamic. Given a fair chance to strut on Soma City, though, the former sideman for Johnston proves himself a mature, sophisticated songwriter and bandleader in his own right. Midtempo rockers like "Will" and "Lighthouse Keeper" and the moody ballad "Ruin You" come off as faceless and boring at first, but blossom with repeated listenings. As with many better records, gratification on Soma City is hard won--it's better the twentieth time than the third. Still, the stylistic marks of his days with Johnston weigh heavily on Salem. And with his apprenticeships done, the question remains whether he can emerge as a viable frontman out of the shadows of his former employers. But if he proves he can't, we still gain from more of the same. --Roni Sarig