Tag: kings x (Page 1 of 2)

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.

There was a time when I thought Kings X were going to be the biggest band in the world. Their blend of heavy grooves, amazing vocals, and incredible harmonies should have led them to world domination, but the music fans as a whole just didn’t get their brand of rock and major success eluded them.

This record is in my top five of all time, it’s just an incredible album from start to finish. It contains heavy balls out groovers like Over My Head (which got heavy MTV airplay), and songs with all the feels like Summerland and The Burning Down. Then you get tracks with really heavy, funky time signatures like Everybody Knows A Little Bit Of Something which is an incredible piece of music, and has an awesome groove and vibe. I love everything about this album and to pick a favourite track is really hard ,but today’s choice is Fall On Me. This is an OG pressing and sounds great, I also have a Metal Blade reissue that is a very noisy pressing. My advice is track down an original.

10/10 from the Grooveman.

I think I have mentioned many times that the first 5 King’s X are albums are untouchable and they are all classics. This is the band’s 8th studio album release from 2000 and sees the band producing themselves in a more experimental vibe. Whereas early grunge bands (like Pearl Jam) were extolling the virtues of King’s X as influences, things seem to have come full circle as the band’s songs on this album have a more grungy feel to them. Listen to Julia, and if you didn’t know who you were listening to, I’m sure you would say it would be some band from Seattle.

The sound is very stripped back and clear – in fact – the production is superb. I would say the Beatles influence in the band has taken a lead role on this album, and the heavy groove that is their trademark takes somewhat of a back seat. My favourite track on the album is the quite laid back vibe of Marsh Mellow Field, and a that is purely down to the superb solo from Ty.

They don’t make bad albums, just less great ones, and this is one of those.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

This is the third album released in 1990 by one of the world’s best rock bands. The first 5 albums are untouchable! Every one a masterpiece of the genre. The thing about KingsX is that when they appeared on the scene in ’88 no one had heard anything quite like them, and they were not as immediate as all the bands doing the rounds at the time. The three part harmonies are just superb, and add that to a killer rhythm section and a great guitar player, you can’t ask for much more. I personally love them, and the Grooveman monicker that I go by is from the track Groove Machine from the Tape Head album.

The opening track, We are Finding Who We Are, has a killer vibe and groove that only this band can do. As soon as you hear them you know it’s KingsX, no one sounds like them. The Beatles influences are more evident on this album than any other they have done, especially on the three part harmony lines on I’ll Never Get Tired Of You, Mr Wilson, and Six Broken Soldiers. One of may favourite all time KingsX tracks is We Were Born To Be Loved which is just incredible. The riff, groove, and off time interchanges are just nuts – and those harmonies! I think everyone should own the first 5 albums as they will put so much joy in your soul.

10/10 from The Grooveman.