Suburban Kid Explained

Suburban Kid
Type:studio
Artist:Bob Evans
Cover:Bob Evans - Suburban Kid album cover.jpg
Recorded:2002–2003
Genre:Folk pop
Label:Redline, Shock
Producer:Bob Evans, Simon Struthers
Next Title:Suburban Songbook
Next Year:2006

Suburban Kid is the debut solo album by the Australian singer-songwriter Kevin Mitchell, which was released under his pseudonym, Bob Evans. Mitchell is the lead vocalist of alternative rock group, Jebediah. The album was released on 8 September 2003 on Redline Records and was co-produced by Mitchell and Simon Struthers (Adam Said Galore). YourGigs website described it as "an album of youthful introspection, love and loss". Jason Ankeny (Allmusic) felt the album was "showcasing a more intimate, roots-flavored dimension of his songwriting". All the songs were written by Mitchell, although "The Hermit" was co-written with Luke Steele from The Sleepy Jackson. Luke's sister Katy Steele from Little Birdy provided backing vocals for the album.

The first single from the album, "Friday Come Five", was released 18 August 2003, with the second single, "Turn" released later in the year. Both tracks were put high rotation on Triple J when released and received solid support on Triple M and community radio stations around Australia. Film clips for both tracks aired on Rage, MTV Australia and CH[V]. In late 2003 Mitchell undertook a national acoustic tour, in support of the album's release, finishing up with a Festival of Perth performance alongside Evan Dando (The Lemonheads) and Tim Rogers (You Am I) in February 2004.

Background

Suburban Kid is the debut album by Bob Evans, the pseudonym of Australian singer-songwriter, Kevin Mitchell, from Jebediah.[1] Mitchell created the name as a side-project in 1999, to play incognito solo shows in Perth:[2] [3]

From the age of 20, Mitchell had started to compile a list of acoustic guitar-based songs. They were inspired by his life in the Perth suburb of Bull Creek, Western Australia and by the age of 24 he had developed a concept for a solo album.

Suburban Kid was released on 8 September 2003 and was co-produced by Mitchell and Simon Struthers (Adam Said Galore).[4] The first single, "Friday Come Five", was released ahead of the album on 18 August.[5] The second single, "Turn" followed later in the year. Both tracks were put high rotation on radio station, Triple J, and received support on Triple M and community radio stations around Australia. The album was initially released by Redline Records and was subsequently re-released on 28 August 2006 by EMI Records[6] following the success of his second Bob Evans album Suburban Songbook (2006). The suburban-based theme continued with his third album, Goodnight, Bull Creek! (2009).[7]

Guest musicians on Suburban Kid include members of Jebediah, Ammonia, Adam Said Galore, Little Birdy, and End of Fashion.[8] In late 2003 Mitchell undertook a national acoustic tour, in support of the album's release, finishing up with a Festival of Perth performance alongside Evan Dando (The Lemonheads) and Tim Rogers (You Am I) in February 2004.[9] [10]

Reception

YourGigs website previewed Bob Evans' 2009 tour and described Suburban Kid as "an album of youthful introspection, love and loss".[11] Jason Ankeny (Allmusic) felt it "[showcased] a more intimate, roots-flavored dimension of his songwriting".[12] Perth Sounds reviewer opined "[it] is a more personal affair allowing him to write honestly about long distance relationships, personal faults, good friends".[13]

Personnel

Credits according to album notes.[14] Musicians

Production

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelCatalog No.
Australia8 September 2003CDRED020
28 August 2006EMI361288

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20060912181216/http://amo.org.au/release.asp?id=5521 Bob Evans
  2. News: The name's Bob Evans, for now . . News Limited (News Corporation) . Shedden . Iain . 3 April 2009 . 2 May 2009.
  3. Web site: Bob Evans: Nowhere without... Kevin Mitchell? . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113620/http://www.yourgigs.com.au/interviews/?interview_id=116843 . dead . 6 July 2011 . Ward . Claire . Yourgigs. ninemsn Pty Ltd (Nine Entertainment Co. & Microsoft) . 3 April 2007 . 3 January 2012 .
  4. Web site: Engineer – Simon Struthers. Forensic Audio Mastering . 3 January 2012.
  5. Web site: Bob Evans . Music Australia (National Library of Australia) . 29 September 2003 . 3 January 2012.
  6. Web site: Bob Evans – Suburban Kid (reissue). Chaos music. 3 January 2012.
  7. News: Goodbye to Suburbia . Community Newspaper Group (News Corporation) . Melville Times . McRae . Ross . 25 November 2008.
  8. Web site: Bob Evans interview. PerthMusic. 2 August 2003. 3 January 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120317151409/http://perthmusic.norg.com.au/2003/08/02/bob-evans-interview/. 17 March 2012.
  9. Web site: Triple Touring Treat. Frontier Touring. 3 January 2012.
  10. Web site: Evan Dando live at Village Veranda Perth . X-press Magazine. 3 January 2012.
  11. Web site: Artist Info: Bob Evans . https://web.archive.org/web/20070903185543/http://www.yourgigs.com.au/artist/?10586 . dead . 3 September 2007 . Yourgigs. ninemsn Pty Ltd (Nine Entertainment Co. & Microsoft) . 4 May 2009 .
  12. Web site: Bob Evans – Biography. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Ankeny. Jason. 3 January 2012.
  13. Web site: Bob Evans – Suburban Kid CD Review . PerthSounds (WordPress (WordPress Foundation)) . 6 November 2004 . 4 January 2012.
  14. Suburban Kid . . 2003 . CD booklet . . RED020.