Dolls of Highland out now via Sub Pop / Rhythmethod
Kyle Craft has shared a beautiful cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel #2”, which was filmed at the former Blade Studios in Shreveport, LA. The cover was shot and edited by Evan Falbaum of Moviesauce and Produced by Landon Lloyd Miller of Moviesauce. WXPN’s The Key blog premiered the visual and said, “On his version of the song, Craft brings a tender, intimate touch to the song”
Kyle Craft’s thoughts on why he recorded “Chelsea Hotel #2”:
“Chelsea Hotel #2, the way Cohen delivers it, it’s through a window into another time and the further we get into this thing, the future, the more I feel like a stranger. When he died, I felt very alone…as I’m sure many people did. The song is for him, for Patti Smith, for Dylan…for everyone who inspired me to write and for a time and place that seems so foreign now.”
What people are saying about Kyle Craft:
“…Undeniably unique: Kyle Craft is a strong contender foroutsider of the year. An unlikely hero of the year. An unlikely hero of rock music, he’s nonetheless created a noteworthy, potentially groundbreaking debut album in Dolls of Highland.” [8/10] – Paste
“Just enough of Ziggy’s stardust gives “Pentecost” its musical sheen, but it’s Craft’s vocal intensity that outlasts all else.” [“10 Artists You Need to Know”] – Rolling Stone
“…This unlikely but brilliant debut hurls together Craft’s Dylan-meets-Brett Anderson holler with rollicking ragtime stomp, reminiscent of vintage Cockney Rebel or early Suede. The instantly singable likes of “Berlin” and “Lady of the Ark” are peopled by “girls and ghosts” from Craft’s hometown of Shreveport – burlesque dancers, vampires, “midnight boys” and “jackknife queens” – each depicted with a mix of empathy,humour and occasional savagery. And behind these tragicomic nightlife tales is a top-notch songwriter who has been fired by the sting of romantic betrayal.” [Dolls of Highland, 4/5] – The Guardian
“[An] outstanding debut album…” – World Café
“Paired with his knack for great melodies, it demonstrates Craft’s emotional power as a songwriter.” [“Pentecost”/ “Songs We Love”] –NPR
“Craft, who grew up in Louisiana but now lives in Portland, brings an authentic southern blues sensibility to glam and folk rock but what makes Dolls one of the best albums of the year is his ability to transform his influences into a sound that’s all his own.” -Huffington Post
“…The 27-year-old’s debut album, Dolls of Highland, earned almost exclusively positive reviews, following a simple formula: Bob Dylan’sBlonde on Blonde crossed with David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. Despite the transparent approach, he produced not a familiar sound but rather a cryptic sort of glam Americana that defies expectation…” – Village Voice
“… “Lady of the Ark” hints that Craft’s music is so full of its own weird singularity that he’s on to something far beyond idol worship. ” [“Lady of The Ark”] – Billboard
““Eye of a Hurricane” starts Dolls.. with a sudden jolt of energy, courtesy of the song’s ragtime piano lick. The keys continue to drive the track, as the distorted guitar works to add a sense of eeriness to the song. All the while, Craft displays the full prowess of his vocal range, hitting high notes that hark back to glam rock vocals of the ’70s” [“Eye of a Hurricane”] – American Songwriter
“It’s an exhilarating ride from start to finish.” [Dolls of Highland, 8/10] – Pop Matters
