Steve Kilpatrick Westside Crop Circles CD

Shaun Dale of 'Cosmik Debris' says;It's hard to tell you about this one. Steve Kilpatrick has created one of the few self-released albums truly deserving of the designation "masterpiece." Primarily a guitarist, Kilpatrick has devoted years to cranking out R&B covers on the "animal club" circuit, playing some of the finest Elks, Eagles, Moose, etc. halls in the greater Lansing, MI area. All the while, he's been writing and recording totally original, expertly crafted music that he refuses to play out, claiming that he's "incapable and uninterested" in playing solo or fronting his own band.

Well,Steve, I don't know much about your interests - except that judging by the songs you write they're expansive and, ummm, unusual - but your capabilities obviously exceed your judgement. Westside Crop Circles is probably the only album I've ever heard that reminds me of both Brian Wilson and William Burroughs, and I mean that in the best possible way. The title is appropriate, because just when you think there's something conventional going on here, Kilpatrick tosses in something that makes you wonder "How did that get here?" And it works every time.

Kilpatrick sings and plays everything on the album, which is usually an indication of unwarranted musical conceit. Not this time. Every element fits every track perfectly, and his approach is so unique that any additional presence would have seemed like an alien intrusion. This disc originally appeared too early to make my "Best Albums Of 2002" list, but it's unquestionably the best indie self-release I've heard for the first time this year.

Tom Schulte of All Music Guide says:Kilpatrick's 'Westside Crop Circles' is a wonderful jumble of contradictions; pure pop melodies like 'Bigplan' nestle along quirky takes like 'Bruno' and it's sampled dog bark chorus. 'Multi-Generational' brings to mind the Residents and Tom Waits is hinted at elsewhere. As a singer-songwriter, Steve Kilpatrick makes dark, avant-folk songs that hold up under repeated listening. **** Kevin May of Current Magazine says:A Lansing loner with arsenal ranging from country storytellers ("Conjugal Visit") to quirky pseudo-jazz ("Multi-Generational"), Steve Kilpatrick favors the quirky, affable edge."Brothers-In-Law" is a Dire Strait-sy track with a funny story line about a slacker who misses his sister's ex-husband because they were kindred couch potatoes. Her new one just doesn't understand his 'bohemian ways"...."Bigplan" , a crafty tune with a 'nice guy' crooning is about an estranged father kidnapping his daughter or rescuing a lonely spinster from a life of boredom...Strangely touching either way, especially with the white-bread ending fade chorus of "If Jesus really loves me there's a Molson hiding in this fridge"."Smell that Rainbow" is a Hendrix-y instrumental that evolves into "Me and Oprah, My Pajamas and the Pain" a cry-in-your-cider ballad about getting dumped for the paperboy. In a flash of cornpone genius, a ludicrous Oak Ridge Boys type baritone enters testifying 'bout the Lord--very "Hee Haw" talking about the comfort of his jammies.

In all, a sweet and soulful goof from a literate good ol' boy. "Westside Crop Circles" is at once easy and weird, warm and witty.

Rick Johnson, former

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