With everything ahead of us

With Everything Ahead of Us

Stewart Kenny

Angela Macari O’Looney

Stewart Kenny’s second album, this inspiring collection of songs is due for release in the near future. His debut I’ve fallen so far was launched in 2009 in Crawdaddy and is a favourite in my own CD collection.

Stewart has been composing since he was fourteen, and he possesses a fantastic vocal range. His guitar playing skills are also quite impressive. He produces, arranges, mixes and masters his own music.

His influences include greats such as Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Ray Lamontagne and the list goes on.

Play the Game

This number starts off with a dramatic space aged intro, picking up to a faster tempo for the verse. It’s an upbeat song, with a catchy melody line and close harmony adds sparkle. The lyrics are sarcastic; you like the last laugh, you need the last word/ you need to twist the knife, when all you got’s a spoon.The busy drumbeat, synth and programming lend to the cheerful mood. I particularly enjoy the key change where Stewart goes up to falsetto.

Plucked acoustic guitar notes and a trickling quality are the key features in the second track. Empty promises is laid back and has a soothing quality. Chord combinations are sweet and the refrain Everything, everything has an ethereal feel to it.

Maybe he’s better off dead

Choppy, with tragic notation, this number is quite sad. The lyrics conjure up a picture of a person who suffers from media persecution. Stewart’s delivery is excellent here, as he goes through a list of possible reasons for someone to end up hating fame and success! Why was he a victim, cause he was in the public eye? I suspect it relates to the unexpected and sad demise of the King of Pop.

With everything ahead of us

With his acoustic guitar for the beginning and gradual introduction of synth, this number is laid back and very appealing. In it, he’s asking his sweetheart to be optimistic and not to look back, but forward. His light vocals and the harmony for the chorus give it a hopeful feel. I like the percussion throughout and how it falls back here and there, then returns.

In We can make it there the na na refrain is the most appealing feature. I like his descriptions about a summer’s day and swimming in the sea. The picture is painted in his lyrics and you can taste the salt breeze and almost feel the heat of the sun!

Little Darling involves heavenly keyboard and is a love song. Guitar comes in later and adds to the romantic, easy mood. Stewart’s vocals are passionate and harmony filters through here and there.

Stewart demonstrates his astounding guitar skills in Hand in hand, where he performs a solo that has a jazz/flamenco style and is definitely my own favourite bit. At the beginning he creates a big orchestral sound, where programming and electronic keyboard notation is quite complex and imaginative. He composed this number with his wife, Anne Marie Papin.

A destination unknown is a sensitively told story of someone’s life. It’s mournful, but notation is delicious. Guitar is divine as it trickles along, with chord changes simple and very appropriate for this soulful piece that would be great for a film soundtrack.

Fast and choppy, with a cool ah ooh refrain for the chorus, Won’t you take my hand is a number with a dance feel to it. Acoustic guitar lends a contemporary atmosphere to things and I love the busy bass line. Synth and electronic keyboard also filter in here and there. A subtle key change keeps things interesting and Stewart’s arranging ability is evident throughout.

Of the remaining tracks on this fifteen track album, I have some favourites.

The chord progression and the magical sound of Glockenspiel give a dreamy charm to Take it to infinity.

Little mysteries untold has some awe inspiring acoustic guitar solos throughout.

My absolute favourite number on this entire album, Boo hoo you was co-written with his Dad Tommy Kenny. This song is jazzy and involves a tenor sax, close harmony and superb piano and guitar. The sweet melody line, cheerful mood and jazzy riffs are simply beautiful!

The last number on the album, Baby’s smile is a sad piece about the loss of a child and the unfathomable justice that life throws at us. Consoling is impossible in a case like this and that tragedy is captured so well in the lyrics. A trickling guitar and wonderful piano accompany him. Stewart and his brother Alan composed this song.

Stewart’s capacity to create such a variety of lovely tracks is quite amazing. His subtle key changes and delicious instrumentals never fail to inspire and intrigue me!