Worlds Apart Reviews
Reviews
Audities Magazine
1991 API Records
This '91 album by one of the founders of API Records has some fine moments.
The catchy opening track, "World of Make Believe", has great resonant
bouncy guitar riffs, bright synth, snappy drums, and operatic backing
vocals not unlike Queen or New England. The cover of "He Ain't Heavy...He's
my Brother" is admirable but Tim's normally strong voice wanders and seems
unfocused. Subtle jazz and fusion rock elements are at work in the synth
playing on the remaining more danceable songs. That is, danceable save
for "In Paradisium", a chant Pope Gregory would have found appealing and
one I have to admit is strange enough to find in the middle of a rock
album that I find it appealing too.
-Gary Littleton
The
Ocean County Review
September 1991
TIM KEYES IS WORLDS APART FORM THE REST
I'll admit to being a skeptic.
Cynical, sarcastic, and not easily impressed. I was naturally a bit suspicious
when Meg Poltorak, the executive vice president of the Watchung based
August Productions and personal manager for Tim Keyes, called me and praised
Tim's first album "Worlds Apart" to the skies.
I should lighten up and not be so darn suspicious is what I've been telling
myself over and over from the first moment I pressed "play". Described
by August Productions as, "new world rock music," the 11 songs of Rundgrenesque
pop on the "Worlds Apart" album are an uplifting pastiche of musical styles.
The tunes are molded by the versatile Keyes into a keyboard-driven tour-de-force.
On a scale of on-to-five, the album has on two-star song. The rest of
this debut effort contains three-and-one-half or better tunes.
Written, arranged, performed, engineered, and produced by the Baytown,
Texas native, the album should provide Tim Keyes with a solid base of
fans and support If the excellent video for the song, "World of Make Believe"
actually makes MTV rotation, who knows, Keyes could suddenly become a
star.
Here's a quick outline of what's in store for you:
**** World of Make Believe: the first single, great hook, nice guitar
run, good sonic wash-cool tune
***1/2 Into the Fire; very Todd, great stuff, nice building chorus-in
general, a pretty kick butt song.
***Kings and Castles Fall; great vocals, good, good hook, nice slightly
psychedelic guitar solo-great sing-along lyrics.
**He Ain't Heavy; Tim adds nothing new to the old Hollies' chestnut-the
only "clunker" on the album.
****1/2 Highwire; not to be confused with the Stones' comical stab at
political awareness-my favorite song on side one.
*****Alone Tonight; very pretty guitar intro by Matt Pisani, a great ballad,
poignant lyrics, yearning vocals, side two starts off with one of the
best songs on the album.
****Dangerous Reaction; this obligatory "babe" song rivals Todd Rundgren's
"You Cried Wolf" for bite-great possible single.
***Time of Year; a slow, moody introspective and intense groove, this
song builds nicely and stays in your head.
*****The Open Gate; the other killer song on the album, this one is instantly
catchy. This is one of those songs you'll want to play first thing in
the morning-a great way toi start the day and a hit single if ever there
was one.
***In Paradisum; an ethereal, church-like interlude.
***1/2 We As One; the 'feel good' ballad on the album. Ends "Worlds Apart"
on an uplifting note with no unpleasant aftertaste.
One of the best albums I've heard so far this year!!
-Al
Muzer
East
Coast Rocker
April 1992
Singer/songwriter/musician Tim Keyes is enjoying the success of his latest
CD Worlds Apart.
Vocalist/keyboardist Keyes recruited electric guitarist Jim Leahey, acoustic
guitarist Matt Pisani and drum programmer Jim Garabo to play on the LP,
Keyes also took part in all of the bass and drum programs for the album
and sang backup along with background vocalist Zaire.
The 11-track CD includes the songs "We As One," "Kings and Castles Fall"
and a cover of the Hollies classic "He Ain't Heavy."
A Texas native and graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Keyes now
resides in Northern New Jersey where he recorded and produced Worlds Apart.
Keyes has showcased various New Jersey venues including the Tradewinds
in Sea Bright and The Clubhouse in Plainfield.
-S. C.
The
New Review Of Records
January 1993
The New Review Of Records January 1993 Drawing on such song craftsmen
as Todd Rundren or the Cars' Ric Ocasek, Keyes makes a fine album of New
Wave Pop tunes. This might limit his hipness quotient on the indie circuit,
but any fan of the energetic Rock that saved the Mainstream during its
mid-'70s doldrums should appreciate this newcomer.
-Brad Balfour
One of a series of advertisements that appeared
in various publications including
DETAILS MAGAZINE & THE NEW REVIEW OF RECORDS