KO

On Let's Blaze, KO's autobiographical debut album, the Toronto, ON-based singer/rapper/guitarist talks with remarkable candour about his descent into substance abuse and his fight to get sober. Unfortunately for both KO and the listener, any inspiration that could come from KO's lyrics is washed away by the epic mediocrity of this album. With his half-rapped/half-sung lyrics and mid-tempo acoustic guitar, KO sounds like the bastard son of Matisyahu and the Dave Matthews Band. On the album's first cut, "Moving Mountains," KO's style is moderately endearing, and his "whoa, I've seen trouble" lyrical content is slightly engaging. The problem is KO only has one speed and "Moving Mountains" is it. If you've heard that you've pretty much heard the entire album. While one has to admire KO for overcoming some fairly formidable obstacles, after 14 songs, his disaffected young man act starts to sound whiney, as do his vocals.