Klark Kent - Kollected Works

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Music reviews of Kollected Works

Music Review: Klark Kent CD "Kollected Works"
Rating: 5 Stars

When Klark Kent first came upon the underground music scene in 1978, no one expected his single "Don't Care" to be a chart topper when it reached #28 in the British Top 40. He became a peculiar enigma as his identity was unknown to the public, appearing at The Top of the Pops TV studio wearing a mask. But by the time he released the 10-inch vinyl album "Music Madness from the Kinetic Kid" in 1980, most in the industry had cracked the case. Playing all the instruments himself and singing his own lyrics may not have been the typical behavior of Police drummer Stewart Copeland, but it became the mainstay of his alter ego. This CD puts together all of the songs from that eight song album, plus the singles and flipsides released in 1978, along with some extra material. The music is a curious mix of his droll lyrics centered around a blend of strong rhythm rock guitars and a steady bass. The quirky vocals provide the forefront that is catapulted by his trademark vigorous offbeat drumming.

As a diehard of the Kinetic Kid, I still love the extra tracks on this disc, although they could have been presented better technically. The songs "Stay Ready," "Strange Things Happen," and "Love Lessons" were actually recorded by Colts; Stewart Copeland and Derek Holt. They're great works, they just don't belong on this CD. Klark Kent gained notoriety as being a one-man band, so Holt's inclusion, even if only as a backup vocalist, seriously dilutes that. At the end of "Strange Things Happen," you can hear a tiny clip from "The Rhythmatist," Copeland's solo album. The song "Excess," truly one of Kent's best, is billed as "Excesses." And the Klark Kent song "Guerilla" appears only as a hidden track at the end of "Office Talk."

However, despite these technicalities, I still have to give this "Kollection" a big huge thumbs up for its uniqueness and masterful style. The interview in the liner notes is great as it adds to the whole Klark Kent mystique. There will never be another musical creation quite this. Whether you are a fan of the Police, but more importantly, of Stewart Copeland, then you HAVE to have this CD. It was the forerunner of his brilliant solo instrumental soundtrack work to follow.

Description of Kollected Works

Alternative Rock CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop
• Rock