I’m a huge fan of the X and I have said it numerous times, their first five albums are cast in stone and cannot be touched. Each one is a gem and treasure trove of delights. However, after the split with Sam Taylor the band’s sound changed as they strived to get their own identity. This album is a lot more chill and quite psychedelic in places.
Opener, The Train, has a Ty lead vocal and that Beatles Sgt. Pepper vibe. Thinking And Wondering follows and it is one of their songs that just makes you want to melt. The vocal harmonies are just incredible with that hint of melancholy, it’s basically just an acoustic piece. It sometime feels as though it’s a jam with a very loose groove and production, but those vocal harmonies just get you and I love the riff. A Box has a slow groove with that patented X guitar sound, but again it’s the vocal that gives you all the feels. Looking For Love has the vibe and groove of early Kings X. It’s my favourite track, with its a killer riff, very heavy groove, and superb hook and chorus. Mississippi Moon has Ty singing and the vibe is very psyche with those big jangly guitars. 67 has very slow, deep, and heavy groove, and Doug’s vocals are so cool.
Lies In The Sand a is real slow tune with a Ty vocal that reminds you so much of The Beatles. Run follows with an odd drum groove, and some real heavy guitar. Fathers again has a real slow groove with lists of jangly guitars and multi layered vocals. American Cheese sounds like something off any latter Beatles album. Picture has a very similar intro to Goldilocks, one of their all time classic tracks, but it reverts to a more pedestrian vibe. Life Going By closes out the album and it’s back to how we came in, with Ty taking the lead vocal with a deep psyche groove. By anyone’s standards it’s a good album, but Kings X don’t make good albums, they make great albums and I would put this at #6 in the list.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
