NEW YORK NEWSDAY

Written by
Kevin Amorim

Performance: A

Songwriting: A

Sound Quality: A

Hometown: New York


There are more atmospherics on Joe Kuhl's "In a Doll's Head" album than there
were last week during the Leonid meteor shower. And though the
singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist (he handles everything on this
nine-songer) likes to think of his endeavor as chiefly British, when it comes to
his influences (see Radiohead), one can hear Kuhl kneeling at the altar of
Church at times ("Turning Blue," "Finest Day").

"In a Doll's Head" is as nuanced and delicate as miniature furniture in one of
those special-order dollhouses. But that doesn't mean Kuhl's work is quiet. He
piles so many layers of guitar and vocals on some of his songs ("Hush,"
"Flutter") we forget this is a one-man show. And then "Swindle Two" is
surprisingly upbeat for a Grim Reaper tale; John Lennon would be proud of its
wit.

"In a Doll's Head" is just good headphone rock.
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