Post by NardDog on Aug 1, 2008 13:53:31 GMT -5
(inspired by Tony Stark)
...and now for another thread that focuses on an obscure band that most of you probably have never heard of...thereby ensuring that it won't get but 5 or so replies in the next 3 months or so
Ladies and gentleman it is my pleasure to give you...
King's X
Doug Pinnick-Bass,Lead Vocals
Ty Tabor-Guitar, Vocals
Jerry Gaskill-Drums,Vocals
formed in 1980 this trio based in Houston, Texas(my hometown...represent!) is often compared to Rush...which I have always found as a false comparison...they definitely have Prog Rock leanings as Rush does but they have so many other elements that Rush don't that the comparison is somewhat confusing.
...and you may ask yourself(thanks David Byrne) what elements? well first off their ability to morph into many styles...they are better than any prog rock band at doing this...in fact this is what is at the heart of their progressive nature whereas most prog bands are interested in pushing themselves technically speaking, King's X is interested in pushing themselves stylistically speaking...from rock to blues to funk to metal to avant garde to psychedelic to even somewhat hip hop...King's X covers a lot of ground
another element is their ability to pull off Beatlesque singing...this term is overused but it truly applies to Doug, Ty & Jerry and on that note(no pun intended) let's talk about the singing...Doug has a very soulful voice(think Prince except in a baritone register) Ty who sings lead almost as much as Doug has a very pure voice that reminds me of Paul McCartney(again with the Beatle comparisons I know) and Jerry's is very pleasant as well although he rarely sings lead his voice is similar to Ty's
I've never been very long winded when talking about music for the most part...if I could fully verbalize my thoughts and feelings about it I don't think it would captivate me as much as it does with that in mind here is a list of all of their albums with a brief description and a rating/ranking
(NOTE: all the members have been involved in numerous side projects and have released solo albums on top of that so this is just the beginning if you like the group you can also check out the solo albums as well as Platypus, The Jelly Jam, Supershine, Poundhound are among some of the side projects)
Studio Albums
(King's X have released 12 Studio albums to date-rankings will be a fraction that displays the ranking as the numerator[ex 1/12])
(all ratings are out of 5 stars)
Out Of The Silent Planet- (1988) the title is inspired by a C.S. Lewis novel this album is a good start but not fully formed if you are the type of music fan that gets the 1st album to start with be warned this is one of their weaker albums...it still beats most anything that passes for popular music nowadays but it's not their best***1/2
8/12
Gretchen Goes To Nebraska-(1989) this is where you should start! this album is their best and probably their most successful all of what makes King's X great shines through radiantly on this album life inspiring yet realistic lyrics stellar music CHECK THIS ALBUM OUT!*****
1/12
Faith Hope Love-(1990) this is kind of their magnum opus to me very epic and it just has an all encompassing vibe about it...highly recommended*****
2/12
King's X- (1992)a very good album a lot of stylistic shifts in this one if you like variety this one has that****
5/12
Dogman-(1994) King's X take a stab at grunge...mostly miss the mark there are some good songs on this but mostly it's one false step after another still would put Nickelback to shame**1/2
11/12
Ear Candy-(1996) a return to form poignant songs beautiful harmonies brilliant musicianship****1/2
3/12
Tape Head-(1998) reminds me of the self titled album in the sense that it stylistically covers a lot of ground unfortunately it's not as cohesive but still a good album***
9/12
Please Come Home...Mr. Bulbous-(2000) a lot of die hard King's X fans tear this album to shreds personally I don't see why it's not their best but it's experimental nature may serve to polarize the listeners to me it a very solid album****
7/12
Manic Moonlight-(2001) my least favorite King's X album but it has some good moments I just think it's too sludgy and just generally unfocused**1/2
12/12
Black Like Sunday-(2003) a bunch of old songs that were from when they were a different band...maybe they should have stayed on the shelf...it's alright but nothing to write home about...it does have some good moments though(as all King's X albums do)***
10/12
Ogre Tones-(2005) Just when you think King's X have lost it they knock your socks off...one of their best albums classic King's X****1/2
4/12
XV-(2008) another strong album through the years King's X's lyrics have gotten a little more accusatory/critical(starting around Tape Head) that upsets some fans...but what would upset me is if the lyrics weren't intelligent or soul searching that's always been the case with this band****
6/12
...anyway that's King's X in a very tiny nutshell...I might expand on this later but I just wanted say something about one of the most underrated, under appreciated bands of all time...please share your thoughts about this amazing band if you have any...
...and now for another thread that focuses on an obscure band that most of you probably have never heard of...thereby ensuring that it won't get but 5 or so replies in the next 3 months or so
Ladies and gentleman it is my pleasure to give you...
King's X
Doug Pinnick-Bass,Lead Vocals
Ty Tabor-Guitar, Vocals
Jerry Gaskill-Drums,Vocals
formed in 1980 this trio based in Houston, Texas(my hometown...represent!) is often compared to Rush...which I have always found as a false comparison...they definitely have Prog Rock leanings as Rush does but they have so many other elements that Rush don't that the comparison is somewhat confusing.
...and you may ask yourself(thanks David Byrne) what elements? well first off their ability to morph into many styles...they are better than any prog rock band at doing this...in fact this is what is at the heart of their progressive nature whereas most prog bands are interested in pushing themselves technically speaking, King's X is interested in pushing themselves stylistically speaking...from rock to blues to funk to metal to avant garde to psychedelic to even somewhat hip hop...King's X covers a lot of ground
another element is their ability to pull off Beatlesque singing...this term is overused but it truly applies to Doug, Ty & Jerry and on that note(no pun intended) let's talk about the singing...Doug has a very soulful voice(think Prince except in a baritone register) Ty who sings lead almost as much as Doug has a very pure voice that reminds me of Paul McCartney(again with the Beatle comparisons I know) and Jerry's is very pleasant as well although he rarely sings lead his voice is similar to Ty's
I've never been very long winded when talking about music for the most part...if I could fully verbalize my thoughts and feelings about it I don't think it would captivate me as much as it does with that in mind here is a list of all of their albums with a brief description and a rating/ranking
(NOTE: all the members have been involved in numerous side projects and have released solo albums on top of that so this is just the beginning if you like the group you can also check out the solo albums as well as Platypus, The Jelly Jam, Supershine, Poundhound are among some of the side projects)
Studio Albums
(King's X have released 12 Studio albums to date-rankings will be a fraction that displays the ranking as the numerator[ex 1/12])
(all ratings are out of 5 stars)
Out Of The Silent Planet- (1988) the title is inspired by a C.S. Lewis novel this album is a good start but not fully formed if you are the type of music fan that gets the 1st album to start with be warned this is one of their weaker albums...it still beats most anything that passes for popular music nowadays but it's not their best***1/2
8/12
Gretchen Goes To Nebraska-(1989) this is where you should start! this album is their best and probably their most successful all of what makes King's X great shines through radiantly on this album life inspiring yet realistic lyrics stellar music CHECK THIS ALBUM OUT!*****
1/12
Faith Hope Love-(1990) this is kind of their magnum opus to me very epic and it just has an all encompassing vibe about it...highly recommended*****
2/12
King's X- (1992)a very good album a lot of stylistic shifts in this one if you like variety this one has that****
5/12
Dogman-(1994) King's X take a stab at grunge...mostly miss the mark there are some good songs on this but mostly it's one false step after another still would put Nickelback to shame**1/2
11/12
Ear Candy-(1996) a return to form poignant songs beautiful harmonies brilliant musicianship****1/2
3/12
Tape Head-(1998) reminds me of the self titled album in the sense that it stylistically covers a lot of ground unfortunately it's not as cohesive but still a good album***
9/12
Please Come Home...Mr. Bulbous-(2000) a lot of die hard King's X fans tear this album to shreds personally I don't see why it's not their best but it's experimental nature may serve to polarize the listeners to me it a very solid album****
7/12
Manic Moonlight-(2001) my least favorite King's X album but it has some good moments I just think it's too sludgy and just generally unfocused**1/2
12/12
Black Like Sunday-(2003) a bunch of old songs that were from when they were a different band...maybe they should have stayed on the shelf...it's alright but nothing to write home about...it does have some good moments though(as all King's X albums do)***
10/12
Ogre Tones-(2005) Just when you think King's X have lost it they knock your socks off...one of their best albums classic King's X****1/2
4/12
XV-(2008) another strong album through the years King's X's lyrics have gotten a little more accusatory/critical(starting around Tape Head) that upsets some fans...but what would upset me is if the lyrics weren't intelligent or soul searching that's always been the case with this band****
6/12
...anyway that's King's X in a very tiny nutshell...I might expand on this later but I just wanted say something about one of the most underrated, under appreciated bands of all time...please share your thoughts about this amazing band if you have any...