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09/20/08 Joe’s Pub New York, NY
Discography
10/18/08 Borgata Atlantic City, NJ 10/19/08 World Cafe Live (WXPN Studios) Philadelphia, PA 11/21/08 Troubadour West Hollywood, CA
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ENTER THE TAYLOR
I think I get what Benjamin Taylor - of musician parents of James Taylor and Carly Simon - is trying to do with his themed The Legend of Kung Folk: Part 1 (The Killing Bite). The way I see it, with the television show, Kung Fu, a Shaolin monk wanders along the countryside spreading his kung fu. Instead of a monk, it's Benjamin Taylor spreading his co-called Kung Folk!
I love the idea and name of Kung Folk, it seems like an American Folk with an Eastern philosophy. It is obvious to me that Taylor is deeply interested in Asian culture - and not just because of Bruce Lee (although that's cool too).
In 1997, Taylor took the musical path as The Ben Taylor Band, a "neo-psychodelic folk funk" as Taylor puts it. He changed that music style, more classic folk starting with his 2005 album, Another Run Around the Sun.
FOLK OF FURY
The melodies and backup singers on "Wrong" makes the song an obvious choice to represent Taylor, plus it's a great song. I also really enjoyed "Wicked Way", a fun song about a guy who wants to have his wicked ways with this girl. I love bluntness of it:
I don't want to meet your friends or just pretend I like you
I don't want to talk about what happened on your favorite TV show
I just want to get you close enough so I can take off all your clothes
I am not going to make you cry or break your heart
Girl, we don't have the time
I'm just thinking of three hours or more
So I can have my wicked way with you.
The most interesting song on this album is "Wilderness", the only song that's not written by Taylor. I found out that it comes from rapper John Forte, who's currently serving time in prison for procession and intent of distribution of narcotics. The song is what you would expect from Taylor, so I am interested in what it would sound like under Forte's direction.
RETURN OF THE KILLING BITE
The Legend of Kung Folk was released September 16th on Iris Records. I recommend buying it from Newbury Comics as it comes with an autographed CD booklet.
I leave you with this Taylor quote:
Laughing at myself is proving to be very good Kung Fu.
- Benjamin Taylor
