Vintage Review: Will Kimbrough’s Americanitis (2006)

Will Kimbrough is one of Nashville’s best-kept secrets. An in-demand guitarist that has worked with folks like Rodney Crowell, Jimmy Buffet, and Todd Snider, among others, the Americana Music Association chose Kimbrough as “2004 Instrumentalist of the Year.” The biggest secret, however, isn’t Kimbrough’s talents as a musician (which are well documented at this point), but rather his little-known skills as a singer, songwriter, and performer. Nowhere is this more apparent than with Americanitis, Kimbrough’s third and most personal solo album yet.

Americanitis is Kimbrough’s reaction to the social and political aftermath of 9-11 and the Iraq War, his politically-charged lyrics delivered with intelligence and humility and an infectious musical mix of Beatlesque pop, roots rock and country twang. Kimbrough tempers the commentary of thoughtful songs like “I Lie,” “Pride” and the brilliantly subversive, Britpop-styled “Less Polite” with explorations of love and human relationships. Whereas “Act Like Nothing’s Wrong” offers some timely advice and the Okie blues of “Wind Blowing Change” heralds stormy weather for America, the spry “Enemy” is a rollicking apology to romance gone wrong while “Another Train” is a raucous showcase of Kimbrough’s six-string mastery.

Kimbrough has delivered his most fully realized album yet with Americanitis, pulling off a tight-wire act that would send lesser artists over the edge: balancing social commentary with romantic observations and making both equally entertaining. (Daphne Records, released 2006)

Review originally published by Country Standard Time magazine