Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers - The Bear

Along with his backup band the Sixers (who consisted of Keith Karlson and Brian Boots Factor upon the release of this album), 32 year old singer/songwriter Stephen Kellogg has had his ups and downs, beginning with self released efforts, working his way up to a major label and being dropped, and now fetching up with a well established independent, Vanguard Records, for the Bear. No doubt part of the reason he keeps getting shots at the big time is that his music has such a surface appeal. It's melodic Pop/Rock, usually featuring an acoustic guitar supported by an electric bass and drums, with other midrange instruments; keyboards here, banjo there, filling in the sound, all in support of Kellogg's smooth tenor singing catchy choruses to story songs, at least some of which sound like they must be autobiographical. Simply heard on record, the music is nice enough, but the lyrics are simple minded and full of clichés, for the most part, and since they are emphasized over the music, which exists largely to accompany them in a pleasant manner, the effect is a sort of generic Folk-Rock.