Review by Sue Williams
Well it was inevitable that I was going to like Quid Pro Quo - it has Kasim’s name on it so of course I’d like it! It would be easy enough for me just to write a sycophantic review of Quid Pro Quo but this week I’ve listened to it several times (lots of times in fact!) and decided that I really would like the album even if it wasn't by Kasim.

The thing that first struck me was about how much the whole package was just pure Kasim - from his own songs, to the covers he chose, to the inserts, - Kasim himself comes over it all (at least to me!). The title Quid Pro Quo sums it up perfectly.

The cover itself is very striking. Inside there are photos from Kasim’s childhood and through his life (starting with his grandfather holding him as a baby up to Kasim playing in his studio) and then he lists his family with the lovely phrase “my love for you is endless”, plus the whole album is dedicated to his father.

I won’t go through the whole album track by track but the thing that struck me on my first listen was how varied the songs are - so many different genres of music are covered on this album. It also showcases Kasim’s vast vocal range, as well as all the instruments that he can play - he certainly is versatile.

The production of the album is very professional too. It certainly says something when (at least in my opinion) the weakest track on the album is the live one. I really like Don’t Hold Me Back and when Kasim belts it out at the beginning of his sets, the whole audience sits up and takes notice but I just think that this was one of his poorer performances of the song as usually his voice is much stronger.

Kasim’s earlier albums are known as being very “poppy” but Kasim’s writing styles have matured so much that Quid Pro Quo contains some amazing poignant lyrics to which everyone can relate.

My favourite track on the album is The One Sure Thing. I love hearing Kasim sing it acoustically at his shows so I was dubious about hearing a studio version of the track but Kasim has combined the best of both versions as the first verse is just Kasim and a guitar before the other instruments are introduced which is very effective.

At the last run of Meat Loaf concerts they played two tracks off Meat’s forthcoming album Testify, neither of which (in my opinion) came anywhere close to being as good as We The People - what was Meat Loaf thinking of to reject that? It’s an obvious Meat Loaf song through and through with it’s changes in tempo but, more than that, it’s just a damn good song!

Out of the two covers that Kasim chose to include my favourite is easily Remember. Kasim sings the song quite deeply with just a piano accompanying him initially which matches Neilson’s words perfectly. Where Is My Soul is not what I would have classed a Kasim Sulton song so it was a pleasant surprise.

Several of the songs on the CD I’d heard either on stage or as demos (e.g. Over For Now) so they’re not new to me but Goodbye I find fascinating as I really liked it’s predecessor I’ll Carry On. It still has the tenor guitar on it but this song is far less “poppy” as it’s slower and the words are better.

Already this past week on a few late nights when my salon has been quiet, I’ve put Quid Pro Quo in the stereo and when people have come in, I’ve twice seen them tapping their feet to songs so that’s always a sign of a good album!

Roll on Quid Pro Quo II………!