Music review: KebëƵ MoëƵ – ëƵGood to BeëƵëƵ
KebëƵ MoëƵ returned to his Compton roots during the pandemic and found inspiration in the familiarity of home.
ëƵGood to BeëƵëƵ is the five-time Grammy winnerëƵs latest release, filled with a soothing blend of contemporary blues and R&B tracks that provide keen observations about savoring lifeëƵs precious moments.
ëƵGood to Be (Home Again)ëƵ opens the album and finds KebëƵ MoëƵ back in the neighborhood and feeling blessed as he declares, ëƵIëƵm back on the saddle/Back on my horse/IëƵm back in town/Back to the source.ëƵ
KebëƵ MoëƵ extends the comforting emotions of coming home from a personal sentiment to a universal message as he tenderly sings, ëƵItëƵs good to be you/ItëƵs good to be me/Good to be young, good to be old/Good to be home again.ëƵ
Love continues as the central theme on ëƵSunny and Warm.ëƵ This charming love declaration reflects the excitement of a blossoming romance that warms the heart and soothes the spirit with KebëƵ MoëƵ proclaiming, ëƵSunny and warm is the way I like it/When IëƵm falling in love/It ainëƵt no crush, itëƵs forever/When the summer is gone weëƵll still be together.ëƵ
ëƵGood Strong WomanëƵ spotlights a guest appearance from Darius Rucker. The two sing about a concerned motherëƵs advice to her son about the right kind of soulmate needed for a happy forever as they sing, ëƵYouëƵre gonna need a good strong woman thatëƵs got your back/Fill you back up when youëƵre outta gas/A good strong woman goes a long, long way/Makes the right now better than the yesterday.ëƵ
KebëƵ MoëƵ is joined by Old Crow Medicine Show on a number that details the day-to-day struggles to find a place in this world and the solution for answers when announcing, ëƵEverybodyëƵs doing the best that they can/WeëƵre all just waiting on the Medicine Man.ëƵ
The set comes to a gentle close with KebëƵ MoëƵ and Kristin Chenoweth beautifully delivering an intimate performance about a loving relationship that runs deeper than words when they sing, ëƵBut quiet moments are the best/When itëƵs just you and me speaking silently.ëƵ
The 70-year-old artist sums up the albumëƵs message and puts things in the proper prospective when he sings, ëƵI canëƵt tell you what the future holds/It might turn to crap, it might turn to gold/Maybe the bees might teach the pigs to fly/But IëƵm just gonna love everybody until the day I die.ëƵ
It is indeed good to be home again.

