While away from C.F., Klyma records album

by Bryan Redemske
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (Waterloo, IA)
Thursday October 4, 2001

Greg Klyma "In The Meantime" (Homemade Pie Productions) three and a half stars

Whether in music or in life, honesty is usually the best policy. While many people lack that truthful, open stance in their music, Greg Klyma embraces it and makes it his own.

Klyma's latest album, "In The Meantime," showcases his talent in its finest form, allowing the listener to seemingly sit right beside him as he goes through the paces. As mentioned in the liner notes of the CD, Klyma's main goal is to record an album "with a full band and lush production ... but that project wouldn't really represent what I can offer you, the audience, at my live shows, as I spend most of the year performing solo acoustic."

He's right.

After listening to the album, I can't see how Klyma would be any better off with a full band.  His voice and guitar sound great alone, and he tells a story like few others.  In terms of comparisons, Klyma is similar to Ryan Adams, but without the rough edges.  Adams sometimes snarls and scatches while Klyma is free and easygoing.

He tells it like it is, and it's refreshing.  You know that when he sings his songs, it's how he feels.  It's truthful, but not threatening.  It doesn't seem to matter if you agree or not - he's just telling everyone what's in his head.

"In The Meantime" covers 10 tracks and 41 minutes of great music.  It opens with "World of Love" and peaks in the middle, with "MacGruder's Daughter (the Life is Good)."

When Klyma first went on tour in 1997, Cedar Falls' Mainly Lou's was one of his first stops.  He's been on tour almost non-stop since then, and he blew into town again a couple of weeks ago.  He performed Monday on KUNI's "Live From Studio One" show and will play his final Cedar Falls shows (on this stop at least) on Oct. 12 at Mainly Lou's.  He'll hit the stage at 9:30pm.

Fans of acoustic folk music won't want to miss the show. But if you can't make it, try to get your hands on a copy of the new CD. Co-Op Records in Cedar Falls was pegged to have a limited number of copies on hand, but they'll likely go fast. Don't miss a quality opportunity to hear some great music in a great setting.