Craft, Kyle / Dolls Of Highland
Album: Dolls Of Highland   Collection:General
Artist:Craft, Kyle   Added:Dec 2016
Label:Sub Pop Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2016-12-21 Pull Date: 2017-02-22
Week Ending: Feb 26 Feb 19 Feb 12 Feb 5 Jan 29 Jan 22 Jan 15 Jan 8
Airplays: 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 3

Recent Airplay
1. Dec 22, 2022: The Library
Lady Of The Ark
4. Aug 09, 2017: The Library
Lady Of The Ark
2. Dec 16, 2021: The Library (rebroadcast from Apr 5, 2017)
Lady Of The Ark
5. Aug 02, 2017: The Library
Lady Of The Ark
3. Oct 11, 2017: The Library
Three Candles
6. Jun 23, 2017: The Library
Lady Of The Ark

Album Review
Francis D
Reviewed 2016-12-14
“Dolls of Highland” Kyle Craft
Theatrical glam rock with hints of goth, alternative and even Southern rock. Confident and well crafted (pun intended). Remarkable debut for a 27-year-old, self-made singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist originally from Louisiana, but now residing in Portland, Oregon. Craft played most of the instruments on the album himself. In-your-face rock ‘n’ roll with powerhouse vocals. RIYL: Queen, Bowie, Big Star.
— Francis

Recommended: 4, 5, 1, 9, 3, 8. FCC on Track 7.

1. (4:31) Eye of a Hurricane – Barrelhouse piano. Angular guitar. Full-throated vocals. Warren Zevon “Ow - ooohs!” in several places. ****
2. (3:01) Balmorhea – Southern rock. Deliberate tempo. Harmonica flourishes.
3. (4:17) Berlin – Bass- and rhythm-driven rock ‘n’ roll about a pole dancer named Berlin. Organ and tinkling piano. Hooky chorus. ***
4. (5:06) Lady of the Ark – 1960s-style “Be My Baby” rhythm track with reverbed tambourine. Cool bass line. Accordion solo in lead break. ****
5. (4:49) Gloom Girl – Another highlight. 1970s brass trappings throughout. Catchy chorus with Craft’s tenor soaring skyward. A timeless rock song. ****
6. (2:10) Trinidad Beach (Before I Ride) — Short hazy ballad with prog-rock undertones.
7. (3:07) Future Midcity Massacre – Acoustic-backed Southern rock with strong backbeat, organ and carnival-barker vocals. FCC: “fuck.”
8. (3:36) Black Mary – Straight-ahead glam rock. Sounds like it could be from a Broadway show. **
9. (4:01) Pentecost – Organ. Strong bass line. Strummed acoustic guitar. Squeezed vocals in high ranges. Builds in intensity, with edgy electric guitar in lead break. ***
10. (1:27) Dolls of Highland – Very short mid-tempo tune. Circus-like piano. Melodic tune.
11. (4:23) Jane Beat the Reaper – Another show-tune performance. Organ prominent, together with old-fashioned barroom piano.
12. (4:02) Three Candles – Harmonica-flavored, mellow closer. Acoustic guitar. A nice lilt to Craft’s big vocals.

Track Listing
1. Eye Of A Hurricane   7. Future Midcity Massacre
2. Balmorhea   8. Black Mary
3. Berlin   9. Pentecost
4. Lady Of The Ark   10. Dolls Of Highland
5. Gloom Girl   11. Jane Beat The Reaper
6. Trinidad Beach (Before I Ride)   12. Three Candles