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23 of 24 found the following review helpful:
 Depends on what you like! May 28, 2004
By Gregory A. Glasscock
"rhwoodpecker"
Keb Mo has done 3 of my favorite albums (CD's...I am an old dog) of all time. Keb' Mo, Just Like You, and Slow Down are the three. The Door and Keep It Simple don't get me. He is still a great voice and guitar player but the music just doesn't move me. I think, as has been noted, that he is moving away from the blues and that is fine. I hate to see artists get pigeon holed into something they don't have their heart in. And in all fairness, none of the CD's are totally blues anyway. But I will say that if blues is your bag, then certainly start with one of the early works. If you like a littele more pop sound then buy Keep It Simple or The Door. By the way, I happen to enjoy Big Wide Grin, which is all covers, more than Keep It Simple or The Door. The selections are interesting and well performed. I stand Keb's version of America the Beautiful up with Ray Charles' version. And Everybody Be Yo'self is one of my favorite Keb' Mo recordings. I wait with interest to see where he goes next. I will continue to follow but will always gravitate to the first three works. One more thing, his Sessions at 54th make me want to see him live. He has a great stage persona.
30 of 33 found the following review helpful:
 You won't crack a frown Feb 13, 2004
By Janet Allen
"sandpiper"
Keb' Mo' lets his light shine on this CD. The music is a mix of blues, pop, with a bit of gospel and even bluegrass thrown in. The first track, "France" sets an upbeat mood, and makes you smile from the start. "Let Your Light Shine" has an affirming message with a gospel tone. The sardonic "Prosperity Blues" laments that things can be so good, they're bad. And the title track, "Keep it Simple" features some of the best guitar work on the CD.Keb's "Riley B. King" is a great tribute to a great man, and it features outstanding guitar solos from Robert Cray and Robben Ford. In "House In California" we get to hear Keb's bango playing, and some fine bluegrass instrumentation. Background vocals on the song are provided by Vince Gill, Amy Grant, and Andrea Zonn (who also plays the violin on the track). The other tracks are not disappointing, either. This is not "low down blues" but "up high blues". Keb's in fine voice and great songwriting form. Thanks, Mr. Mo', it was worth the wait.
18 of 19 found the following review helpful:
Keb' Mo' Makes Blues Mo' Beautiful Feb 15, 2005
By Randy Bonifield
"randyb"
Not being a Keb' Mo' follower, I picked up this CD after hearing of its 2005 Grammy® Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album and listening through the cuts online. Simply put, I have not purchased a better CD all year.
This CD caught me offguard from the start with "France", a terrifically humorous story of a wife's desire to travel abroad..."Aint nothin' wrong with Texas/But I'd really love to go to France". The fourth cut, "Shave Yo' Legs" is one of the most endearing love songs I've ever heard and "Prosperity Blues" has such a great spin on the "blues" that you can't help but chuckle. Keb' Mo's tip of the hat to B.B. King in "Riley B. King" is a beautifully fitting tribute cut that features both Robben Ford and Robert Cray with their best King imitations. The title cut, "Keep It Simple", contains one of the best payoff lines you'll ever hear, but the hidden treasure on this CD just might be the "King"-ly "Walk Back In".
Keb' Mo's blending of a more contemporary pop and blues sound with straight-forward lyric and the perfect blend of joy and sadness is what makes this CD sing. Where some would criticize Mo' for his "abandonment" of his roots, this listener found "Keep It Simple" to be an incredibly palatable and addictive blues injected recording that combined strong lyrical content, well-crafted songwriting, and a varied blues foundation. That is probably what sets this recording apart from the rest - Keb' Mo's ability to vary his sound and words to create a layered beautiful blues offering.
16 of 17 found the following review helpful:
Upbeat ? Blues ? Apr 21, 2004
By R. J. Marsella
Keb Mo combines upbeat and positive lyrics with a beautiful mellow blues style that results in something really original and fun to listen to. His lyrics sometimes make me laugh out loud and the mellow groove of his tunes is infectious. This is really great music. Another reviewer below already referenced my favorite verse in the whole cd re: the coffee store, etc. This is my first Keb Mo CD but I am ordering the others. I hope they are as good as this one.
18 of 20 found the following review helpful:
"saw" the album live! Mar 19, 2004
By stumptowngal
"stumptowngal"
A collection of warm sunshine -- Saw Keb live at the House of Blues for his debut of this album, where he unbelievably played STRAIGHT for 2 1/2 hours and came on back for more -- TWICE--- there was no stoppin him!
The songs on this album from You Don't Have to Shave Your Legs to Let Your Light Shine -- they are so filled with that beautiful Keb Mo' energy that you can't help but catch that big wide grin he's forever flashing-- he's a good man with a big heart and warm sweet beautiful message, and way, about him -- gonna get the cd just to bring me back to that night. This is what music is all about! Relax and smile and enjoy!!!
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