Music
Press
I took KJ Walker's CD, Count Me In, with me when I went to the mountains and listened to it in the car. I really liked his brand of roots rock, with a Californian flavour, especially in KJ's mellow vocals. The songwriting is solid most of the time, reminiscent of Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and the melodies and beats are versatile enough.
"Without You" is a great love song, probably because it reminds me of the later Bruce Springsteen (didn't I tell you that Bruce is my favorite singer ?) and because of its nostalgia, but there are other highlights, from the ballad "A House In My Heart" to the driving rock'n roll beat of "Thinkin of You".
- Nicolas LeJeune, http://riversinvitation.blogspot.com/
KJ Walker adds mean guitar to his devil’s jukebox. His best lyrical lines, … would make Elvis Costello proud! (He’s) an easy artist to like, simply because he’s just so honest. You may not agree with the life he lives, or the women he loves, but Count Me In is a transparent look at Walker’s world, warts and all.
– Dan MacIntosh, Review You
Full review here: http://www.reviewyou.com/reviews.php
- Review You
Discography
LP = Count Me In.
Available at CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, and all the other digital outlets.
Photos
Bio
KJ Walker is a veteran troubadour, just now breaking out of the Los Angeles blues circuit with a fresh outlaw-pop rock sound that echoes of Wilco, the Travelling Wilburys, the Jayhawks, Roddy Hart or the Volebeats – with an occasional foray into Tom Petty territory.
In KJ’s music and lyrics, you can hear the influences of some of the greats of American country rock like Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Leon Russell. Like their classic hits, KJ’s songs are simple but sophisticated. They’re personal yet about universal themes like love and longing.
KJ’s vocal style is decidedly mellow, meshing nicely with his tuneful melodies. The overall sound is rooted in acoustic guitar, but a full band provides enough power to act as a rhythmic launch pad for KJ’s energetic and distinctive electric guitar solos.
KJ started his musical career busking on the cobblestone streets of Europe. It’s been a long and varied musical journey since then. Along the way, he’s explored everything from folk to new wave to Chicago-style blues, meaning KJ can end up leading the listener down some pretty surprising avenues: country twang one minute, latin beats the next. But it all combines into his own musical expression and unique way of looking at people and the world.
For the last several years, KJ’s been playing blues clubs and roadhouses all around L.A.’s suburbs and exurbs. As he began integrating his own work into the mix, his sound began to emerge and evolve.
Most recently, his path led into the studio. Last year, KJ cut way back on live performances in order to focus on recording. The result? “Count Me In” – eleven original songs, on which he provides lead vocals, plays all the guitars and almost all of the keyboards. These tunes, when taken together, stand as KJ’s musical manifesto. They represent a recognition of his true musical soul – a starting point for the next chapter of his career, which is already being written, even as you read this.
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