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Kevin's song "Tonight" was featured in the 2016 film Spaceman, a baseball odyssey starring Josh Duhamel and W. Earl Brown. View on IMDb · Soundtrack credit
Longtime Chicago-based rocker Kevin Lee's new EP gives fans more of what they'd expect over a long career carrying a power-pop torch also championed by Cheap Trick, Material Issue, Off Broadway, Pezband, and dozens of other Chicago bands that made their mark. The first single we discovered (via Apple Music) is a classic, prototypical Windy City rocker "Ruby Red Lips" maneuvered by Erik Strommer's chugging drums, spot-on harmonies by Patti Prendergast and Michael Kurtz, and ace guitar work from Lee and Kurtz. It's Midwestern pop-rock at its best. "Best is Yet To Come" is another "best of" from the EP, buoyed by additional classic harmonies by The Kings and Lee's message of overcoming obstacles. The anthemic "Miracle" is Lightning's most accessible and radio-ready track, with an infectious early '80s melody yoking serious band harmonies and dual guitar work. EP closer "Wind it Up" dabbles in harder brit pop territory, while "Smashed to Pieces" has a power metal blueprint not too far removed from the early MTV-era. If you love music from Chicago's golden age of power pop with a harder edge, Lightning Strikes should be added to your playlist.
Kevin Lee is one of the originators and survivors from the era of massive major label signings that took place in Chicago in the early '90s when Smashing Pumpkins, Liz Phair, Veruca Salt, Fig Dish and Urge Overkill were scooped up and signed to big record deals. Even though the band had a cup of coffee with MCA records back in the age of Seinfeld and Mad About You, he established himself as a songwriter who knew how to deliver big hooks with dueling guitars.
The title track meshes sweet '70s AM radio harmonies with a ripping Angus Young-ish riff from guitarist Michael Kurtz, while "Nothing To Lose" mines the best DNA from Off Broadway. Perhaps Lee's best moment on the record, the anthemic "On Top Of World Tonight" deftly blueprints some of the great power pop that's come from the midwest — Cheap Trick, The Insiders and Material Issue.
Two decades later Lee and the band including Kurtz, bassist Patti Prendergast, and drummer Erik Strommer tackle what they do best on their newest record — power pop in its purest form, with a bit of edge. There's nothing groundbreaking for longtime fans, Lee and the Kings stick to what they know best. As an added bonus, live versions of Sticks and Stones are even edgier than on the record — making the band a great listen both on record and in a live setting.
Kevin Lee & The Kings lean on the rockier side of Power Pop with some chunky guitars, big hooks and driving beats pushing the songs forward nicely and are great to rock out to.
The songs on the album are extremely well written and produced to a very high standard and sometimes move at a pace that may make you think the songs are about something other than heartbreak, however, listening to the lyrics, these are very much songs of loss, love and despair. They say an artist has to suffer for their art, and to produce an album like "Breakout," with its lyrical content, you can only imagine, but as far as producing a top quality album with some really touching, meaningful lyrics, Kevin Lee has certainly achieved that and we have gained an album of songs written with real passion and sincerity, not to mention energy. On "Breakout" Kevin Lee and The Kings create classic, strong guitar rock/power pop with a modern edge. The rebellious "Burn It Down" gives listeners the confidence to face whatever life throws at them. And, from "Gold Digger" with its quirky low-key verse to the ultra catchy "Too Little Too Late," Lee's songs stay in your head and keep you coming back for more.
If Kevin Lee & The Kings already sound familiar, that's because the leader was previously in charge of The Lonesome City Kings, who were once inked to MCA. As a guitar-charged rocker that falls somewhere between Rick Springfield and Cheap Trick wrapped around the production of Rick Barnes (Smashing Pumpkins, George Clinton), he's far above the typical indie act and continually connects with gutsy ditties.
Singer/guitarist Kevin Lee is performing at full power on the aptly titled Flip The Switch. An experienced power pop composer, he packs each of these 10 songs with hooks, and he has the pipes to put them across. Former Thrift Store Halo guitarist Brent Seatter helps fuel the energetic tracks like "Built To Burn" and "She's On Fire." "Won't Shed A Tear," one of Lee's better slow tunes, recalls Electric Light Orchestra.
Kevin Lee and the Lonesome City Kings released an album called "Restless" in the early '90s. Well now Kevin is back with a brand new solo album that is filled with great high-quality melodic Midwestern pop/rock with touches of AOR in the vein of Cheap Trick and Matchbox Twenty. The album opens up with a fantastic rocker à la Cheap Trick called "Where Do We Go From Here," this song has great guitar riffs mixed with brilliant hooklines and melodies that hit you right away. The mid-tempo song "Find A Way" with some Beatles influences sounds great, with an almost balladish feel. One of the highlights on the album is the romantic ballad "Right Here With Me" — a wonderful song with superb vocals, a modern AOR ballad with class. The straight-ahead rocker "Down" is pure melodic rock heaven, with monster hooks, a catchy chorus and guitars that won't keep you sitting still. "Without You" is a great acoustic ballad. "Shameless" is a heavier pop/rock tune in the same vein as "Down," with a winning chorus. This is an album filled with crunching guitars, catchy hooklines, and superb vocals from Mr. Lee, with melodies all over it. If you're into the modern pop/rock world, "Loaded" is an album you should check out right away.
This is really infectious stuff. Walk A Mile In My Shoes has the kind of songs that instantly find a home in your head. These are the kind of songs you'll be humming for weeks.
Kevin Lee & The Kings were named one of 2018's Best Local Artists by the Illinois Entertainer Magazine.
Lee was also voted best new artist by Fireworks Magazine UK in 2007.
