kingsx

                                                            1996
                                                            Ear Candy -   5/8

    Ok, this album is average but not too bad. The first time I listened to it I HATED it but it was because "The
Train" is always known as the "best" song. Very generic, I really don't like it, what the hell are they even talking
about on that song? "Leave all your bags and tighten up your metal belt/You leave us all behind, you start to
feel the pain." That makes no sense. There are at least five better on here, and they don't sound like that.
Those are "What am I Gonna Do", "A Box", "Looking for Love" (great metal pop), and "Mississippi Moon". And
oh yeah, "Run" is pretty good. The rest is not so good, and waaaay to poppy for this band, kind of like Dogman
was too metallic. They are great when they mix the two, but the difference is this is mostly pop and the music is
just not up to snuff. Lyrics aren't too great on Ear Candy, "Fathers" is hilariously bad on it's own. But those four I
mentioned are great, for the die hard fans to seek out. Fitting album title too, it sums the record as background
music that is occasionally interesting but mostly ignorable. - Trevor e.y.

1.the train- 2
2.what am i gonna do- 4
3.sometime- 3
4.a box- 4
5.looking for love- 4
6.mississippi moon- 4
7.67- 2
8.lies in the sand- 2
9.run- 3
10.fathers- 2
11.american cheese- 2
12.picture- 1
13.life goes by- 2

                                                            1998
                                                            Tape Head - 7/8

    "What a breath of fresh of air!" That is what I think every time I listen to Tape Head. It is the perfect
description because the band seems like they have recovered from something huge. It is a record of
revelations, of coming to grips with things, and of limitless possibilities. Whether heavy or light, each song has a
strong undercurrent. Tabor is alive on "Ocean" and "Fade" singing more confidently than ever. Pinnick shows
his dark side on the demented "Happy", the haunting "Mr. Evil", and the pulsating "Groove Machine" (an
overrated song, though). Revealing moments do come within the music and it is different than the soul
searching usually found of King's X records. "Cupid" for example sounds very happy with harmonies abound but
speaks of how "cupid shot the wrong guy", speaking either of a lost love or a new found...sexuallity? Hard to tell.
"Higher than God" and other songs speak of a lost Christianity in Pinnick, and while that is not a bad thing
merely a different thing, it is very noticeable that "he chases our lovers away" and "over and over again, I let you
down" speak of a loss of faith. All of these conflicting lyrical themes combined with the usual mix of pop/alt
rock/metal make for one of the band's best records. I would complain a little about the lack of "flow" at times, with
"Ono", "Hate You", and "World" being lame songs, but ending with a live improvisation from hell called "Walter
Bela Farkas" seals the fact that King's X are one of the most uncompromising bands the late 90's had to offer.
- Trevor e.y.

1.groove machine- 3
2.fade- 4
3.over and over- 4
4.ono- 2
5.cupid- 4
6.ocean- 4
7.little bit of soul- 3
8.hate you- 2
9.higher than god- 4
10.happy- 4
11.mr. evil- 4
12.world- 2
13.walter bela farkas- 4

                                                            2000
                                                            Please….Mr Baulbous - 8/8

    It's important to note that what ever religion any members of the band switch too, their records are still a
spiritual experience. So we have the band continuing to be rejuvenated for the second time (the other being
Dogman) and how are they different? Well, they have gotten weirder. "Fish Bowl Man" has a poetry reading in
the middle of it; "Juila" transforms from a ballad into a metal fest then back to ballad again (it's pretty funny
though); and "Smudge" is actually pretty demonic in the vocal delivery. This is King's X at its best though, a
great mix of sounds. Listen to the ethereal "Charlie Sheen", the dual vocal delivery of "Marsh Mellow Field", and
the contrasting verse/chorus of "She's Gone Away" and tell me this style has been done better somewhere else
by some other band! Mr. Baulbous has a good flow to it too, which Tape Head lacked by being packed with
perhaps too many ideas. It never gets boring....once you get used to it. This is not normal music, even for fans
of King's X, but it is great pop I have to say. It is the band's most content record, the most "at peace". My
expectations for this were not high for this record because reading every review I could on it said it would suck
horribly, but no. I love it! It truly has enriched my life, and hopefully can do so for you, reader. Easily their most
underrated album, worth owning and cherishing. - Trevor e.y.

1.fish bowl man- 4
2.julia- 3
3.shes gone away- 4
4.marsh mellow field- 4
5.when your scared- 2
6.charlie sheen- 4
7.smudge- 4
8.bitter sweet- 4
9.move me- 4
10.move me part two- 3

                                                            2001
                                                            Manic Moonlight - 6/8

    Manic Moonlight is to Mr. Baulbous as Ear Candy was to Dogman, an even poppier version of the previous
album. This is better than Ear Candy though, because it is shorter and therefor turns out more consistent. The
band's 9th record has the help of Acid, a homemade kind of record studio (that I myself have used before; I am
sure you all care but I wanted to say it anyways). Manic is actually not manic at all, but calm and relaxed. The
band tries out tribal music and rhythmic beats to a usually good effect. The record is kind of uneven, some
songs are boring like "Manic Moonlight" and "Static", some are good like "Beleive", "Yeah", and "Jenna", some
are new King's X classics. "False Alarm" is maybe their best ballad in years; "Skeptical Winds" is a longer
version using the weird voice he used in "Smudge"; "Vegetable" is actually a personal funk rock song that wroks
very well. The last song is my favorite though, "Water Ceremony", the best King's X song ever! Not really, but
most songs are listenable on this record and they keep everything easily digestible and accessible. Manic
Moonlight maybe their most accessible record to date. - Trevor e.y.

1.believe- 3
2.manic moonlight- 2
3.yeah- 3
4.false alarm- 4
5.static- 2
6.skeptikal winds- 4
7.the other side- 3
8.vegatable- 4
9.jenna- 3
10.water ceremony- gf

                                                            2005
                                                            Orge Tones - 3/8

    Perhaps the release of a live record in 2004, a rehashed b-sides (2003's Black Like Sunday), and a reprise
of "Goldilox" on this record (originally on the band's first), should be a sign they are out of ideas. Ogre Tones is
a redone group, but not revitalized. They now sound more like a wannabe version of themselves, and no certain
song on here stands out. It is also overlong, tedious, and trying on the listener like never before. Half of the
band's records have been inconsistent, but the good ones were always worth cherishing. On "Stay", one of the
lesser tracks, the band actually sound like Linkin Park....yes it is that bad. The guys don't make the worst record
ever or anything, there are redeeming moments in "Alone", "Hurricane", "Freedom", and "Mudd" that make it an
interesting footnote.....but I am just trying to milk whatever juice I can out of a crappy album, easily the band's
worst to date. They have been going strong for twenty years now....they might just need some time off. Heaven
forbid they repeat an attempt like this. - Trevor e.y.

1.alone- 3
2.stay- 2
3.hurricane- 3
4.fly- 2
5.if- 1
6.bebop- 1
7.honesty- 2
8.open my eyes- 2
9.freedom- 3
10.get away- 1
11.sooner or later- 2
12.mudd- 3
13.goldilox- 3
14.bam- 2


		King's X albums

One of the few truly accessible metal acts, King's X are above all very independent. Together since the mid 80's, the band has flown threw trends and metamorphosis zillions of times but remain fundamentally the same. The melodies can be pretty, the lyrics can be preachy, but above all the music is very entertaining. Every fan of the band knows what to expect with every release and simultaneously never knows what to expect. Three very different personalities lead this band on: the preacher in Doug Pinnack, the lighthearted and star-eyed guitar of Ty Tabor, and the always reliable Jerry Gaskill. Not every release is a great record, so hopefully I can shed some light on what some of the best are, at least to start with. At least five of these albums are must haves for any fan of music though, and King's X stands far above any "metal" acts you might think of from the late 80's early 90's. The band's best songs do something most bands could never hope to - truly defy easy categorization. Is it pop? Metal? Alt rock? Christian music? Soul? Listen to "Don't Believe It", "Fade", "Pretend", "Goldilox", "Smudge"....who knows? Just enjoy! Band Members: Doug Pinnick - Bass, Vocals Ty Tabor - Guitar, Vocals Jerry Gaskill - Drums Best Album: Gretchen Goes to Nebraska Biggest Influences: Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, The Beatles

	1988 Out of the Silent Planet - 7/8 The band's first album fit into the metal scene of the eighties but also transcended it. It has "power ballads" and it has all out rockers. The thing is, the passion is truer with a band like King's X and the melodies make them stand out. There is not a bad song in the first nine tracks in my opinion, though some stand out more than others. "Goldilox" is the band's first defining song, a true metal ballad filled with heart; "King" mixes a catchy verse with grinding metal in the chorus; "Power of Love" sounds very religious and serious but comes across as meaningful rather than laughable; "Wonder" is probably my favorite song with it's tempo changes reflecting Metallica and harmonies reflecting The Beatles. Pinnick makes a great lead vocalist and his lyrics come through asking great questions of religion. Songs like "Shot of Love" and "King" come across as actual power pop, which marks another facet to this interesting band. There are subtle things about the music in the album that takes several listens to reveal and many of the songs are slow or mid tempo, so the band differs from it's contemporaries by taking it's time; "speed metal" this ain't. The only real bummer song is the closer "Visions", which goes nowhere. In all, it's a great debut that marked a coming of the merging of two worlds - pretty melodies and super distorted guitars. - Trevor e.y. 1.in the new age- 3 2.goldilox- 4 3.power of love- 4 4.wonder- 4 5.sometimes- 3 6.king- 4 7.what is this- 4 8.far, far away- 3 9.shot of love- 4 10.visions- 2 1989 Gretchen Goes to Nebraska - 8/8 King's X have created a spiritual masterpiece with their second record. Unique in its time, this is a record of metal rock that is very dark, moody, and catchy. "Over My Head" is the band's defining song, and with good reason, it is a memorable soul-metal spiritual about the greatest thing there is, music! Other songs on here range from soft ballads like "Summerland", "The Burning Down" and "The Difference", to anthems like "Fall On Me", my personal favorite "Don't Believe It", and also questions about life like "Mission", "Pleadies" and "Send a Message". Gretchen has a great mixture of softer songs and hard rockers, and the melodies on here are unforgettable. Lyrics set moods on songs like "Mission", with its talk about hypocrites in the church, and "Pleadies" with talk about existence and creates more in the dark context of the atmospheric music then any words ever could. All of the before mentioned songs build uopn Silent Planet's mix of pop and heaviness to a better result, each song is more consisitent and more full (not to say that the debut was a bad album, far from it). It is interesting to note this albums influence on the current grunge scene also, as one listen to "Out of the Silent Planet" will easily recall Alice in Chians. "Everbody Knows a Little Bit of Something" is the sole stumble, the song sticks out like a sore thumb to me. Overall, Gretchen is a great listen and a very spiritual one; it creates a world where you feel like you are travling through space hearing angelic voices that I...cannot explain. Pop metal at its best, this is the template for future King's X records, and the pinnacle of their career. - Trevor e.y. 1.out of the silent planet- 4 2.over my head- 4 3.summerland- 4 4.everybody knows a little bit of something- 2 5.the differance- 4 6.i'll never be the same- 4 7.mission- 3 8.fall on me- 4 9.pleadies- 4 10.don't believe it- 4 11.send a message- 4 12.the burning down- 4 1990 Faith Hope Love - 5/8 Kind of a failure after Gretchen greatness, but not a big one. Where the last album got a great mixture of lyrics, melodies, and music, this one only gets some of those attributes and not on the same song, if that makes any sense. Take the opening song for example, "We are Finding Out Who We Are". They kind of just say that phrase over and over again with no memorable song there. The two following songs though, are easily the best on here. "It's Love" could go on forever, it is that good of an idea! It also has maybe the best King's X chorus of them all, say it with me: "It's looooove, that holds it all together, I just had to let you know!" "I'll Never Get Tired of You" is just as good, with Doug Pinnick saying "never never" oh so smoothly. The rest of the album has it's problems, though. The songs range from good to mediocre, and its kind of personal preference as to which ones are good. Nothing on here is horrible, but songs like "Fine Art of Friendship", "Six Broken Soldiers", "Legal Kill".... I mean they are pretty good, but nothing special. "Mr. Wilson" (what is with the freaky kid voices?), "Talk to You", "Everywhere I Go" and "We Were Born to be Loved" all suck though in my opinion, and the title track would be good if it wasn't freakin' nine minutes long! Overall, the album is over an hour long, and it could use some trimming AND some better ideas. King's X should take a break and regroup ideas, before they fall apart. Not that your "average" album is that bad a listen of course, but King's X are capable of more consistency. Oh! I almost forgot "Moanjam", their ultimate live song......I think its better live. - Trevor e.y. 1.we are finding who we are- 2 2.it's love- 4 3.i'll never get tired of you- 4 4.fine art of friendship- 3 5.mr. wilson- 2 6.moanjam- 3 7.six broken soldiers- 3 8.i can't help it- 3 9.talk to you- 2 10.everywhere i go- 2 11.we were born to be loved- 2 12.faith hope love- 2 13.legal kill- 3 1992 King’s X - 4/8 Ahhhhh! Wrong direction, turn around! This is worse then the last album! King's X is sinking down the "bad album" path on only their 4th record. Not good. Um, there really isn't a great song on here, though if I had to pick, I would say "Not Just for the Dead" is the best, but it is kind of bad too....ugggg. I can't say much about this crap, because that is what it is. With cheesey songs like "Black Flag" and "What I Know About Love" and horrible titles like "Ooh Song" and "Dream in My Life", this is easily the bands worst album yet. The band sounds generic and trying to hard for the mainstream. They have lost their power, can they regain it? - Trevor e.y. 1.the world around me- 3 2.prisoner- 3 3.the big picture- 3 4.lost in germany- 2 5.chariot song- 2 6.ooh song- 2 7.not just for the dead- 4 8.what I know about love- 1 9.black flag- 2 10.dream in my life- 2 11.silent wind- 2 1994 Dogman - 7/8 Despite any doubters, King's X's (that's hard to say) 5th record remakes the band with a grungier sound, but also better melodies and renewed confidence. It is hard to explain in words of course, but this is easily the band's best album consistency wise since Gretchen. It's not as though King's X and Faith Hope Love were experimental ideas gone bad or anything, the band just had gotten stale. They know it too, listen to this record! It is not in the same universe as the other two that preceded it. "Shoes" is a weird stompy kinda song; "Fool You" goes back to being spiritual; "Human Behavior" is odd time signature land mixed with that grungy rock sound, "Pretend" mixes it all up for the album's best song, truly groovy while also being pleasantly surprising in structure at times. "Pretend" may be the most known best song but it is at odds with my other favorite, "Don't Care", a melodic metallic grind of a song that is easily one of the group's more underrated jams. All great! The album is a solid listen up to the first twelve songs (love the Husker Du-ish "Go to Hell"), faltering a little with the mediocre "Pillow" but then rocking with an ace cover of "Manic Depression" that shows the doubters how good this band. This is probably the bands most popular album, but it is no sell out, it is a rejuvenation. And it is glorious, but maybe it could be a little shorter? The heaviness does get to me sometimes.... Ah well, no real complaints. The future looks hopeful for one of the worlds more underrated bands. - Trevor e.y. 1.dogman- 4 2.shoes- 4 3.pretend- 4 4.flies and blue skies- 3 5.black the sky- 4 6.fool you- 4 7.don’t care- 4 8.sunshine rain- 3 9.complain- 3 10.human behavior- 4 11.cigarettes- 3 12.go to hell- 4 13.pillow- 2 14.manic depression- 3