Click here for a printable version of this article
Kiyoshi Graves
Check out Kiyoshi Grave's Music
Genre: Pop/Country
| Current Issue | Archives | Top 10 Articles | Auctions | The Shoppe |
| Message Board | Company Info | E-Mail Directory | Search YBFREE | Subscribe |
| ©2002 Formerly BANDWIDTH: A Popular Culture E-Zine |
Check out Kiyoshi Grave's Music
Genre: Pop/Country
Kiyoshi Graves has just taken a difficult step in his music career - venturing into the world of the solo artist. Prior to engaging in a solo career, Graves was a member of the country western group Dukes and Gannon. He received a Bachelor's Degree in music from Sonoma State University and his musical influences include The Who, Greg Allman, Simon and Garfunkel, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Michael MacDonald, John Denver, and Jimi Hendrix.
Graves recent demo featured three tracks that introduced the musical talent of Graves, himself, on vocals and acoustic guitars, Sean Hoffman on electric guitars, midi and drum programming. Wade Short on bass, John Montgomery on drums, with Marshall Thomson on piano and organ, rounded out by the vocals of Courtney Chambers. The music featured on the EP was a combination of pop and country western without the twang.
The various track lyrics were very well written - Kiyoshi Graves has a talent for prose. Who's To Say is very inspirational:
Who's to say it makes no difference to try and make a difference/Who's to say what's right and wrong when it comes to the dreams in your heart/Who's to say you weren't always heading in exactly the right way/Who's to know it's only you/Who can sat what things are true.
Words was a also beautifully written love song with words that were intelligent and articulate - none of that silly sappiness of many a love song heard on the radio today.
However, Graves fell a tad short in the vocals department. He has a nice voice, but it lacks that je ne sais quoi to make a song a hit. Nevertheless, Graves has a raw talent that with the right vocal training, production, and mastering could move him from mediocre to a tour de force.
Make no mistake, there is a place for Kiyoshi Graves in the music industry. Whether as a songwriter or singer, Kiyoshi Graves is a name certain to be heard in the near future.
Send your comments and or questions about this article to wildkarrde3@hotmail.com..