King's X - Ogre Tones - 9-27-05

[Yesspaz]

Word is it's their best since Dogman!

[Rick and Roll]

I like it a lot...but there are some holes.

The highlights are "Fly" and "Bebop". It's been awhile since they've gotten funky in a heavy context. "Vegetable" off the last record was about it. "Fly" could pass for a Hendrix tune, and Bebop is wicked. Even a Little Richard lyric in the chorus

Maybe that's why I like them so much. They sound like the Beatles with P-Funk.

There are some pleasant surprises also. "Honesty" is all Ty Tabor, and is the only song by them I can recall having all acoustic guitar w/ no other instruments. For about 20 seconds towards the end of the song some other instrumrnts get added, incredibly pointless may I add. But it's a wonderful song. Ty plays a lot of slide on the record too, very atypical.

I believe Jerry Gaskill sings lead on "Freedom, which has some great lyrics. There's a good mix of Ty and Doug on vocals, which is always welcome.

Now the negatives: The songs are very short. There are 14 of them , but a lot are between 2:45 and 4:03. The 7-min "Sooner or Later" is just Ty noodling around mostly...done much better on the 4th record's "What I Know About Love".

The last three songs are a waste. "Mudd" is possibly the worst King's X song ever, it's just a yawner. "Goldilox" (a remake off the first record) is one of the best songs of theirs, but to remake it and call it "Goldilox (Reprise)" is silly - especially since it's the same arrangement! BOC did "Astronomy" twice..same lyrics and theme, but a completely different arrangement..and both killer. But no such luck here. Finally, "Bam" is an instrumental they say...but it's 30 minutes of music and 2 minutes of backtalk. Sort of like Tool does...and no more enjoyable

And the coup de grace..."If" has the same meter in the chorus as Michael Jackson's "Man In the Middle" When I saw them do that in concert, I thought the King of Pop was in the house!

Overall, I like the record. A lot of rocking high points! But while they continue to have one of the best sounds around, the songs are mostly underdeveloped. I'll still hold them to too high of a standard, cause I know they still excel live and I know they're capable.

[Yesspaz]

Haven't listened to it yet, but I remember "Hurricane" from the concert and loved it because in addition to being amazing, the chorus is "Allison - that's just like a hurricane." My ex is name Allison. She's less and more , so you know I like the sentiment!

[Bob Lentil]

I picked it up yesterday and listened to it once. My initial impression is that it's a pretty average album. Nothing really jumped out at me as being exceptionally good or bad. I hope I form some stronger positive feelings on subsequent listens. Otherwise, I don't think this is going to be an album I'll pick up very often.

[Yesspaz]

Really? I've still not had a chance to listen to it, but all the reviews are saying it's knocked out stellar. You two say it's not, but there are some many reviews all over the net going ape about it, saying it's the best thing since Ear Candy or Dogman (depending on your views of Ear Candy).

[Rick and Roll]

I liked a lot better on the 2nd listen. A lot.

[Yesspaz]

Ok, I've listened three times now, and I agree it gets better, but that's because with any music of substance it takes repeated listens to sink in.

The two highlights to me are the two most proggy, one from Doug called "Bebop" and one from Ty called "Freedom." "Bebop" really shows Doug's personality. I also wish Ty had left the original lyric of "Freedom" from when it was left off Dogman. Of course, it's not hard to figure out what he's saying - Jay Phebus - just say it.

I don't think "Mudd" is a dog at all. I really like it; if flows well after the end of "Sooner or Later." In fact I think that this is KX's mellowest album. There's really only 3 in your face types - the two mentioned above and "Alone." There are a lot of songs that, while heavy, are slow. I like the 5+ minute outro to "Sooner or Later." It reminds me of the ends of "Picture," "The Burning Down," and "Cigarettes." Once again the goofy final track is a throw-away like "Water Ceremony," but of much more substance.

I can hear the comparison to "Man in the Mirror" on "If" but I think it's a stretch.

"Honesty" is not all acoustic at all! Ty overdubs himself with at LEAST five guitar lines. Also, bass and drums come in way sooner than "20 seconds to the end." It's a very well done song.

Their Christian history is once again one of the more interesting dichotomies in the record. Doug has his typical "questioning faith" songs in "Get Away" and parts of "Bebop" while Ty's faith is sandwiched in with "Freedom" (even with the changed lyric) and "Honesty."

And of course, "Allison, that's just like a hurricane!" is great to sing along to when you have an ex named Allison.

What I'm most surprised about is that this is the first album by them that have no real "Metal" riff moments. No "Black the Sky" or "Wonder." No "Screamer" or "When You're Scared." It was relatively mellow. There were heavy moments, but not really any heavy songs, so to speak. The closest would be "Alone."

As per the reviews out there saying "best since Dogman," I don't know about that just yet, but it's better than both Black Like Sunday and Manic Moonlight, although there are songs on both of those better than some on this one. Time will tell...

Over all, I'm giving it a thumbs up, but I just don't think they'll ever make another Faith Hope Love, Dogman, or Tape Head. But the worst KX (Ear Candy) is so far above 99% of music it's almost not fair to compare it to its own high standard. Can't compare Magnification to Relayer, but compare it to most anything else on the radio and the radio becomes a joke.


Jerry, Doug, Ty!

[Rick and Roll]

I don't see much prog in king's x, ever. "Bebop" is a kick ass tune. It's straight R & R funk.

Technically, the bass and drums come in for about 20 seconds in Honesty", then the guitar closes it out for the last 20 or so..close enough for me...

The last tune is pretty funny on reflection. With 12 other tunes it's not a turn off. But comparing it to "Water Ceremony"..that tune is what 15 seconds long? This one's about 2 and a half.

That "If" tune's chorus...play it side by side with the MJ song.. you'll see...but it's a pleasant tune nonetheless.

By the way, I've watched about four tunes from the DVD you gave me (finally got it converted). It appears to be last year's Thunderdome (now closed) show. The show there two years prior was the best I'd seen them, but this one was great...of course they're always great live. The sound is fairly crappy, but I couldn't listen too loud. It's hard for me to watch a DVD around the house, I'm always doing something. But thanks again, and I'll watch it all soon. It was surreal seeing a "bar" show that you're at you know? I doubt you'll see me - I was about 30 feet back and the camera appears to be stationed on one spot...but we shall see

[Yesspaz]

I have the only four MJ songs worth having on my computer (Beat It, Thriller, Bad, Man in the Mirror) and I see the comparison, but no where near what you see.

With Bebop I'm talking about the out-there rhythms in the bridge and the outro.

Anyways' I'm liking the album and that's the main thing

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by Yesspaz
IAnyways' I'm liking the album and that's the main thing

Back at ya