One of the very finest songwriters to come out of the '90s/2000s punk rock scene, Kevin Stevenson is a legend in his native Lowell, Massachusetts and criminally overlooked just about everywhere else. That may change with the release of the former Shods front-man's debut solo album Reality Alley on Rum Bar Records. Originally released digitally this past June, Reality Alley now exists on shiny compact disc — one copy of which has been in heavy rotation in my car player for weeks.
It has been a long time since we've heard new songs from Stevenson, and unsurprisingly Reality Alley is loaded with inspired material. Given the diverse musical offerings of any given Shods album, it seems almost unnecessary to say that Reality Alley covers a lot of ground. But seriously: it covers a lot of ground! This album is informed by sounds ranging from rock to punk to pop to reggae to rhythm & blues to folk to jazz. There's even a nod to Grandmaster Flash! The album was recorded while Stevenson was living in the Exarchia neighborhood of Athens, Greece. This afforded him the opportunity to work with top-notch veteran producer George Priniotakis and a superb cast of studio musicians. Compared to the relatively low-key productions of a Shods record, Reality Alley sounds massive. On these songs, Stevenson is supported by a dynamite horn section (Yannis Karagiannakis, Kostas Staikos, Aggelos Tzamatias), a chorus of back-up singers, keyboards, and even a little Theremin (courtesy of Eddie Dyer). If you had told me this album was recorded for a major label in the '70s, I wouldn't have doubted it! All this stellar musicianship works because it serves an exceptional set of songs. The raw material was clearly there, and it's a joy to hear Stevenson flesh out these tunes to the highest possible degree.
Even with its warm, polished sound, Reality Alley retains the grit and down-to-earth personality of its creator. Over the course of 15 tracks (not one of them a dud), Stevenson reminds us all of who he is: a gifted storyteller, a masterful and deeply human songwriter, and an immensely likeable, one-of-a-kind character. You hear that voice, and you immediately know whom you're listening to. "Lowell Night," a vivid portrait of the town's local color, has the feel of a pub ballad of yore. "Torr Skoog" is intensely personal and absolutely heartbreaking. Songs like "50 Bucks" and "Death Jackets" wrap super-dark lyrical content into vibrant and alluring musical packages. Tracks such as "We Know Everyone," "Jack Daniels," and "Drug City USA" highlight Stevenson's flair for huge, indelible choruses. With its hummable melody and invigorating energy, "Brand New Day" immediately feels like a song I've known my whole life.
As I've watched Malibu Lou bring more and more of the finest-ever Boston-area punk/garage talent into the Rum Bar family, I found myself wondering who would be next. The answer is Kevin Stevenson, who makes a perfect addition to the Rum Bar roster. Reality Alley was a good while in the making, and you know Stevenson has had a few of these songs in his head for a long time (as this video filmed in 2016 attests). It's an absolute treat for all of us that Reality Alley is now out into the world and reaching ears across the globe. When the likes of Boston Groupie News and Greg Lonesome are dishing out rave reviews, you know you're getting into something special. Whether you are a longtime Shods fan or simply crave music with heart and guts, this is an album well worth your attention.
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