Sounding a lot like Tommy Keene, Kevin Salem has a list of awesome credentials and a great feely pop album, "Soma City."

A native of Pennsylvania, Salem made his first inroads as a guitarist for Dumptruck in the late years of "For The Country." Relocating to NYC as legal tangles stalled the band's career, Salem performed tours and the likes with Freddy Johnston, Yo La Tengo, and Chris Harford. He has also performed sessions work on records by Miracle Legion and the Pooh Sticks, produced by Madder Rose's and Grover's debuts, co-written songs with Butch Vig, and released this album featuring X-ers from the Dragsters, the Blue Chieftains, and Blood Oranges. And Syd Straw harmonizes on four of the album's cuts. Phew.

Some of the songs include "Amnesia," which builds a wall of guitar into mid-tempo riffs popular with any Tom Petty fan. "Shot Down" must be the song composed after 2a.m., sitting on the bed with the windows open, a cigarette burning away in the ashtray, and the smell of bourbon on the breath. Salem's lyrics are clever, sometimes too clever.

A guy with the pickup and a dig, a girl with a cool book tote, or a dude with a corporate job could enjoy "Soma City."

Reviewer:  Bonn Garrett, courtesy of Flash Magazine.