Kiln House ()

I think this album is a great vehicle for Spencer and Kirwins' talents. My favorite Spencer song, 'Buddy's Song' is a great rocking/pop ode to Buddy Holly with some cool licks. Kirwin's music on 'Station Man' and 'Tell Me ...' just rock out. They are just heavy, heavy songs with extended interplay between Spencer and Kirwin. 'Earl Gray' is a strange instrumental, it's really unique, it leaves you expecting some chord progressions to resolve, but they never seem to. The strongest facet of the album is Kirwin. The weakest part of Kirwin on this album is his lyrics, which typically are one verse (or phrase) continually repeated. Kirwin had an abstact take on song structures and had a totally individual guitar style. Its too bad he couldn't hold it together and keep his focus (You hear 'Life Machine' off of his 2nd solo album and can hear his goods still). I think he might have been better off in a team effort, instead of having to be completely responsible for cranking out new words and music instead of being a guitar player first (his best attribute) and songwriter second (which sometimes seems forced, in particular the solo albums). Check out Dragon Fly (from around this era), its Kirwin at his best. Also, of 'The Chain' box set is a song called 'Trinity' its in the same vein as some of these songs (short lyric repeated twice with lots of jamming).
All in all, knowing this record makes Kirwin and Spencer both sad stories of lost talent.