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: : Black
Like Sunday : :
Praise the Lord and pass the CD, Kings X have released another album!
Kings X has a permanent place in my top 5 bands of all time. I’ve been enamored of
their music since 1988’s Out of the Silent Planet. I’ve purchased each new album,
and enjoyed just about every one of them.
The new album is called Black Like Sunday. The CD includes bonus material: a video
for “Dreams”, lyrics for the album, and band photos. Gotta like bonus the stuff. The
video is interesting for fans. The quality is atrocious but it’s fun to see the
guy’s with their big hair and late 80’s fashion. You can also see that the magic
they create when playing together was already well-developed.
Black Like Sunday consists of mainly of material written before the band took the
name Kings X. The songs include both fan and band favorites. While they all bear the
Kings X mark, we’re treated to a diverse set. I’m reminded of most of albums like
Dogman, and Tapehead. The band eschews fancy production and layers of overdubs on
Black Like Sunday. Instead, they give us pared-down rock and roll songs that still
manage to showcase the power this trio is capable of producing.
Ty Tabor’s tone is raw on this album. Gritty compared to his legendary “Gretchen”
tone. That said, I still like it. It may be a little fuzzy, but its still Ty Tabor.
His vibrato and use of bends is highly recognizable. Bluesy and heavy at the same
time. And as always, his rhythm playing is wonderful.
Doug’s gigantic bass is well represented. Doug has without a doubt one of the most
recognizable bass sounds in rock music. Maybe someday he’ll sample that monster
sound, so the rest of us musician-types can have a little Doug Pinnick bass in our
songs.One of my few gripes is the production on the
drums. Compared to other Kings X releases, they are lackluster and sound, well,
unprofessional. Let me add that I’m not criticizing Jerry’s playing. His
performances are as solid as ever. Now, I can fully appreciate going for the
‘garage’ sound. These days, reverb is the enemy. Instruments and vocals are bone
dry. We’re supposed to dig the intimacy, the closeness, the honesty of the stripped
down sound.
Sometimes the bare bones approach works. Sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve always liked
rock and roll to be a bit larger than life. For me, the garage sound is a turn off.
Maybe it’s my age; maybe I’m just tired of lo-fi sounds. I don’t know…I just wish
more time had been spent on the drum sounds for this album.
I can see two ways to rate this album. I can either compare it to their previous
albums, or compare it to other albums in this style that I’ve reviewed. I can’t
decide so I’ll do both!
As a Kings X fan, I enjoyed Black like Sunday more than their two previous releases,
Manic Moonlight and Please Come Home…Mr. Bulbous. Black Like Sunday is in the same
league as Ear Candy, Dog Man, and Tape Head. In other words, darn good Kings X
music, but different than their earlier releases like: Out of the Silent Planet,
Gretchen Goes to Nebraska, and Faith Hope Love.
Comparing Black Like Sunday to its competition in today’s musical marketplace, I
still give the guys in Kings X high marks. This album has the primitive, grungy
sound prevalent in much of today’s rock music, so the sound should be pleasing to
today’s rock listener. However, Kings X scores higher than average on songwriting
and musicianship.
It is the dream of many a Kings X fan that the band would see some financial
success, if only to thank them for many years of beautiful music. I don’t know if
Black Like Sunday will do it for the three Texans, but I do believe it has a shot.
Now quit reading and go buy your copy!
9 out of 10 stars.
Reviewer: Jeffrey Ryan Smoots
: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :
: : Discography : :
Out Of The Silent Planet - 1998
Gretchen Goes To Nebraska - 1989
Faith Hope Love - 1990
Kings X - 1992
Dogman - 1994
Ear Candy - 1996
Best Of Kings X - 1997
Tapehead -1998
Please Come Home Mr Bulbous - 2000
Manic Moonlight - 2001
Black Like Sunday - 2003 |
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