Album: Fair Hero
Label: Ironside Productions
Rating: 4/5
There is no doubt that Kinley is a name foreign to many ears. An Acoustic Folk singer from the prairies of Saskatchewan, Kinley (alias for Josh Docksteader) humbly introduces himself by weaving a web of simplistic pleasure on his debut album Fair Hero.
Clearly faith-based (Religious-wise) as a songwriter, Kinley’s songs are personal inspirational tales of hope and perseverance in a world gone astray. Devoid of pretentious motives, the songs are truthful expressions of a longing heart. And though melancholic at times, there is no denying the optimism that resonates throughout the core of the album.
Kinley’s voice is a blend of sorrowful regret and unwavering endurance, and it truly aids the thematic structure of the album. Themes of loss and submission found in the songs “Mercy for Us All” and “Defeat” are interspersed with themes of rejuvenation and rebirth in “On the Edge of Triumph” and “Winter to Spring”. So, as straightforward as the album is stylistically, there is great emotional depth lyrically.
Though there are other musicians credited on the album (and they do provide exceptional support), this is a highly personal record that derives from one soul. And with nothing to lose, Kinley lays it all out for the listener to embrace.
Simplicity at its best.
