THE ROLLING STONE REVIEW
Kim Fox Return To Planet Earth - Web Exclusive

On her second album, Los Angeles transplant Kim Fox makes brainy pop with a beat reminiscent of fellow groovy Angelenos like Stew and Jon Brion (both of whom contribute to this record). But Fox is a native New Yorker, and beneath her soaring girlish vocals and sparkling piano, lurks the sounds of Big Apple, from Broadway musicals to the disco beat of the 1970s to shades of Laura Nyro. In setting her lyrics to music, Fox's sly sense of irony is charming. She tells the tale of a booty call over an innocent little New Wave keyboard riff on "Baby I Want You Back," decorates a self-pity party with ukulele, slide guitar and a drum beat as delightfully lazy as a sunny afternoon on "Feel Like Crying," and bemoans the bottom-feeding of mining thrift stores for scraps of nostalgia on the soulful, Burt Bacharach-inspired "Something Just as Good." Cameo appearances by SoCal indie pop heroes such as Margo Guryan, Roger Manning (Jellyfish/Beck) and Probyn Gregory (Wondermints/Brian Wilson) give the album an ensemble feel but never overshadow Fox's sophisticated songwriting.

MEREDITH OCHS (March 18, 2003)