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Mike Kotulka
Hi-lows
Nifty-Fifty
Winning as they may be, the first two numbers on Mike Kotulka's Hi-lows ("Born To Try" and "Caroline") are a bit misleading. Rife with harmonica, rootsy swagger and a touch of a twang that most likely derived from the singer/songwriter's stint in Nashville, the album begins as an Alt Country set, perfect for a long drive, a breakup or a combination of the two. But by "Dumb" which is a blast of guitarslinging cowpunk, the country starts giving way to rock and roll. A working class kid from Lansdale, PA, who was raised on Clapton, Dylan, and The Who, Kotulka wears his classic rock influences well. "Selfish Avenue" sounds like introspective Thin Lizzy; "How Long" brings to mind the late Arthur Lee, while "Love's The Profit" suggests a confluence of The Lovin' Spoonful and Cream. However, his proximity to Philadelphia yields more than a dash of Philly soul on numbers like "Gimme Love" or the stirring title track, all of which add up to an album of truly compelling work.
—Alex Green
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