Kevin Mark Trail:
Just Living

Release Date: 07 March 2005

Reviewed By: Kate Watkins

1. D Thames

2. Perspective

3. Ego City

4. Vibe

5. Bread

6. Lion By Trade

7. Full Moon

8. De Ragga

9. Breathless

10. Backbone

11. City Boy

12. Babylon (Hidden Track)

Coach Carter - Soundtrack
Read Review

It seems like soulful R&B is making a comeback. Over the last year, an influx of young, solo artists have entered the business displaying their talents on stage and releasing debut albums to the masses. Now, it might be easy to throw Kevin Mark Trail into this category. He is a young, London-born twenty-something and has just released his debut album, ‘Just Living.’ However, his work should not be overlooked.

Take the debut single ‘D’Thames.’ The lyrics are autobiographical and self-reflective. As Kevin navigates his way along the Thames, he discusses his life, the mistakes he has made and how his future is before him. The vocals are fluid, wave like and fit the mood of the somewhat sobering song. It’s a piece of music that any 20-year-old could relate to.

You may recognise Kevin’s vocals from some of the work he has done with The Streets but the album itself is a step away from that production.

On ‘Perspective,’ Kevin tells us a little more about just who he is. Lyrically, he talks about his upbringing and Jamaican roots, and his Sunday afternoons watching ‘Eastenders.’ The ska beats in brass in that serve as the backbone of the song parallels Kevin’s cultural upbringing. The song is a mix of reggae and hip-hop; both upbeat, both capturing how Kevin has his life in perspective.

‘Full-Moon’ features an acoustic guitar, piano and more importantly, Kevin’s soothing vocals. On the power-ballad Kevin’s sheer emotional vocals depict a young man who is appreciates who he is and where he comes from. Musically, the song itself is nothing exceptional, but Kevin’s vocals are what make it stand out from the rest. They are pure, rich and seething with passion.

It is evidently clear that Kevin was raised in urban London as his lyrics continually trace spots in the capital. ‘Ego City’ challenges societal concerns of money and vanity. The song is honest about how he sombrely perceives two sides of London – the rich and the poor. Musically, it is monotone but it works, as does the picture he is trying to get across.

The album is very autobiographical. His focus is his life and his experiences. The music is expressive and correlates with just what Kevin is trying to express. Although it is not overly risky from a musical standpoint, the album still oozes with confidence and zeal. If you are looking for an album with some of the best vocals around, this is it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Best Tracks:
1) D’Thames
7) Full Moon
9) City Boy

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z