Press-Reviews
Music Review–The Ink, Las Cruces, NM, July 2008
by Roy van der Aa © 2008
Land of Make Believe by Steve Klinger
Steve Klinger is a singer/songwriter and peace advocate. It is not surprising to find environmental and social justice themes intertwined in his moving poetic narratives. Steve’s voice has a good range, sounding like Mark Knopfler on the low notes to Neil Young at the top of his range. Steve plays all instruments ably … from keyboards, accordion, bass and drums. Guitar lines are simple, but expressive. His style is between old school country and folk and protest songs. At times, content trumps poetics, but the message gets across: “each day we choose more cell phones and TVs / each day we loose more civil liberties.” (from Land of Make Believe).
Steve is best when he is light handed and introspective, A Time to Say Goodbye is the best example of this, when Steve taps into something more universal. The recording’s topics run from the plight of illegal immigrants in a first-person view to critiques of governmental policy, to the flooding of New Orleans. Outrage is tempered with compassion and the listener’s reaction will vary, not by partisanship, but simply the mood one is in. There is a lot to get you thinking about, to get you angry and to ponder solutions. Steve engages - if not confronts - his audience. This record has an emotional depth and an elegance that are rarely found together.
Scapegoat Songs and Pieces of Kitty are my favorites, as they touch my heart in a light and caring way. The instrumentation is sparse and thoughtfuland highlights the lyrics. These songs will echo with a generation who bemoan the loss of the potential of the 1960s and the loss of our friends who took the journey with us.