Kim Carnes

Time, dreams and Angels seem like Stevie Nicks territory and that's just some of the subject matter on Chasin' Wild Trains which probably means Kim Carnes is getting introspective these days - leaning more towards a folksy Patti Smith than the pal of Kenny Rogers we've known and loved. The woman that has somehow straddled the country and rock worlds better than most sounds like a female version of The Eagles going acoustic --- and that's a compliment. "Oh I'd go drivin' down a two lane highway/chasin' wild trains" she sings in "Runaway" while playing keyboards on this blend of piano/guitar/violin/viola and cello. It's one of the more intriguing tracks holding the title of the CD in its bosom. Where Jackie DeShannon's album from 2000, You Know Me, fired on all cylinders, Kim takes the more subtle approach, though she opens "You Made My Skin Burn" with "You don't know me/I Don't Know You", almost in a reverse answer to her old friend Jackie's album title. It's the creative Carnes weaving magic, even some fade in and fade out on the ending a la Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds". This particular track is included in the soundtrack of Jeff Bridges' film The Moguls (Carnes previously recording with Bridges in a duet for The Contenders, his 2001 film) and it is one of the more rockin' - and eerie - numbers on this expanded fourteen song set. The Corazong label from The Netherlands re-released this after Sparky Dawg Music had it out a year earlier, the newer version adding bonus acoustic renditions of the very commercial "Just To See You Smile" as well as a latter-day reprise of "Bette Davis Eyes". What would have been a treat would be for Carnes to have modeled the new cover of her now classic hit after the original from Jackie DeShannon's 1975 New Arrangement l.p. "Still Warmed By The Thrill" brings more moodiness and depth to a project which features a truly eclectic cast from Craig Krampf , the drummer from Kim's original band, showing up on the two of the more commercial tracks - "Just To See You Smile" and "You Made My Skin Burn" - to the great Al Anderson co-writing and lending guitars to the skiffle-ish "Stepped Right In It" along with hubby Dave Ellingson adding some percussion. Jeff Hanna from Nitty Gritty Dirt Band adds slide guitar to "If I Was An Angel" featuring the excellent line "There's no choosin' where you land/once you fall from grace" while "Too Far Gone" recalls this artist's "Gypsy Honeymoon" phase. Kim Carnes album Chasin' Wild Trains could easily elude an audience because one needs to pay a lot of attention to it, the Scotty Bagget recording of Carnes production not as immediately pronounced but ready, willing and able to grow on you when given the chance. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide