With its easygoing mix of Adult Contemporary, country, and light blues, "Waiting for You," the debut from singer/songwriter Kenny Harlan (http://www.kennyharlan.com), charms and soothes the ears, especially that of older listeners. Harlan is a pop artist with a country heart; his voice echoes not only MOR superstars such as Dan Fogelberg and James Taylor but country icons like Toby Keith and Tim McGraw as well. His songwriting is clean and straightforward, which is just right for the audience of this material.
Harlan's songs are simple pleasures; they are finely crafted and gentle, reflecting traditional family values in its spirit. Harlan's voice is soothing and brimming with heart. Although he wears his heart on his sleeve, Harlan doesn't wallow in self-pity. Even when he sings of unrequited love, such as on "Letting You Go," the tone in his voice is more of acceptance than pale-skinned sorrow.
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Much of the record has a commercial country bent, mainly in its slick production although the instrumentation here - guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards - is fairly rootsy and avoids any studio gimmicks. That gives the tunes substance in its sound, honest meat and potatoes pop/rock. Moreover, Harlan sings like a country singer, whether that is intentional or not. Even "Think About You," which is essentially a lyrical homage to the Beatles, has country radio written all over it.
The guitar playing is especially strong. Check out the bluesy riffs on "Waiting for You" and "California Sky."
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