Kyle Riabko

KYLE RIABKO
"BEFORE I SPEAK"
(Columbia, 2005)


"Before I Speak"


Listening to this album, it's hard to believe that Canadian singer/songwriter Kyle Riabko was only 17 years old when he recorded it. His prodigious guitar talent (nearly every note of guitar on the album was performed by him), crisp and robust voice (as sweet and soulful as could possibly be), and keen songwriting skills (he wrote every song) were befitting of a man twice his age, and the resulting album is every bit as good as his gift for music would suggest.

The twelve songs, interspersed with three short "interlude"-type tracks, weave together elements of everything from blues to rock to funk to soul, and I think there might even be a tiny bit of country in there somewhere too. The delicate ballad "Half as Much", the frantic rocker "Paranoid" (with the fantastic lyric, "My life is a twister, so bear with me, sister"), the swaggering blues number "Miss Behavin'", the catchy rock-soul duet "Chemistry" (featuring Liz Phair on guest vocals), and the first-class funk of the title track, are just a few of the highlights.

I'm not sure why he hasn't released any more full-length CDs since this one, but he has been releasing an EP every once in awhile, when his acting gig (on the teen comedy/drama series "Instant Star"), and his fill-in touring work with roots-rock band Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, aren't keeping him busy.