King's X - Ogre Tones

ALBUM REVIEW

Well, here we come to one of my favorite bands. I enjoy sharing this band with people, because they're largely unheard of. That's a real shame, because they've made some incredible music. Is this another brick in that wall? Not a very strong one, I'm afraid.

While there are definitely a few choice morsels on this album, there are more troublesome moments. It does sound a lot more like a "King's X" album should. It's not quite a return to form, but then again, form is really a fluid thing as long as you're an evolving musician.

I don't want to throw out the equivalent of the compliment, "she's got a great personality" to this album, but I really dig the cover art a lot. The boys are sort of hit of miss on this. They have some cover art(and music too) that makes me think they missed their place in time by about two decades. Some of their earlier albums would just look way wicked as an LP.

Enough of that, let's jump into the first track, "Alone". From the primal scream at the start, this song definitely gets your attention. It's so made-for-radio, single-friendly that it's painful. What keeps it from completely shambling off into forgettable crud is the solid harmony in that chorus. If you want to see something really odd, and almost disturbing in it's cheesiness, then head to their site and check out the video for this thing. Tre bizarre, if you ask me.

"Stay" has a lot of the elements of the band's sound, but it sounds to me like another attempt at a single. It's not a very good attempt either. When these guys hit on all cylinders, it's something special, but the lyrics here are weak and predictable, and the song isn't musically much better really.

This album is reviewed one of two ways most places I've checked. Some really dig it, and say it's like the good old days. Some really think it's a bit of contrived crap. I think it's a bit of both. It's certainly a mixed bag at best, and "Hurricane" is a song that I really want to like more than I do. I just can't get over the fact that they're recycling their own songs on this one. This is nothing more than a retread of the title track from "Faith Hope Love". Although I love that album, and song dearly, I just can't bring myself to enjoy this more because of it. I understand that most of music is a type of cannibalism at this point because it's all been done before, but eating your own young is a bit grotesque, even figuratively.

"Fly" is a swing back towards something fine and good. It has all the elements that makes this music wonderful - crunchy riffs, that electric-church vocal, and those soaring harmonies. This is definitely what you can categorize as a return to form. It's the first ray of hope in my mind on the album, although I don't think it really gets going till track seven.

On the other hand, "If" sounds like a song that could have been great if it was arranged a lot better. If you crank up the organ here, and throw the funky into high gear, then the stripped down delivery of this song would transcend what they've recorded and sent it skyward. As it is, it's another pretty okay track, but not what I'm used to.

Oh, wouldn't Little Richard be proud on this one? "Bebop" is a lot better than what's gone before. It's syncopated and almost disjointed rhythm make it unlike it's polished, radio-friendly forebears. The fact that the title eludes to the chorus that chants "whop bop a loo bop a wop bam boom" is fun for me. Maybe you'll think it's stupid, but I enjoyed seeing the fun side of this band on this one.

So, here we are at that seventh track that I said marked the beginning of the album for me. "Honesty" is a wonderful song. It's acoustic, and it's Ty singing, and it's a throwback in all the right ways. This is such a pretty song, and it could be a hit for almost anyone to sing. It's that good. It's a pity that most folks will never get the chance.

"Open My Eyes" is a little thicker and heavier than the earlier tracks, and it brings to mind Thin Lizzy to me. It's a solid song, and one that really makes me have faith for the rest of the album running out in high style. I guess I should just cuddle up with this one, because the ride gets pretty bumpy from here on in.

I'm not exactly sure what made the guys in this band sour to religion. They certainly seem to be a bit apostate at this point in their career. I'm not saying that they can't make good music because of that, but it's sort of sad to see an element of faith removed from their songwriting. "Freedom" is a good song, and it definitely mirrors the feelings that a lot of people have. I can only hope that beneath the veneer of their distaste of being a "christian band", they've kept the faith. This song is anthemic, without being burdensome, and it's a good one.

As a companion to the last song, "Get Away" is a conversation with God about the things that folks tend to have the hardest time understanding - how He could love us, but allow awful things to happen to good people. It's subdued, and drifts along on the course of bongos, and it's really a bittersweet song that I happen to like a lot.

"Sooner or Later" is many things to many people. It's got a smokey, jazz club like swagger to it, and then there are moments that definitely sound like their hometown is showing (Texas). I like them when they strip things down, and do a "slow" song. I also like that this track has some heft, since the rest of the bunch are just three minute blips on the radar. The only problem that I have with the length here is that it's not really filled with anything but a tacked on solo that doesn't really go anywhere.

I think that "Mudd" is the twin of "Hurricane", or the half-brother of "If". It's not a bad tune, but certainly not memorable. By this time on this album, you're actually seeing where they're taking you before you get there, and they've developed certain traits and sounds that are recognizable components, and that's not very interesting for the anxious listener.

I will mention the next track only because I can't just act like it's not here. I'd love to. I want to tell you about the next track instead. However, and for whatever reason, the band decided to remake a classic of theirs here in "Goldilox(reprise)". It isn't improved in the least, and I don't want to say that it stains the memory of the original, but it's going to take some Tarn-X and elbow grease to make it shine again. If you want to hear how this awesome song is supposed to sound, pick up "Out of the Silent Planet" and enjoy.

The final track here is called "Bam". I think it would have been an improvement if it was about the catch phrase of a certain over-exposed creole chef, but it's not. It's little more than a glorified sound clip, which sort of end things on a whimper instead of a bang, or a "bam".

Overall, I'm very disappointed with this album. I felt like when they weren't theoretically robbing their own catalog, they were literally doing it. I suppose that I may be a little harsher on them than I would another band because they're one of my favorites. The problem with that, and not to sound like a dad here, but I know they can do better. I've seen what they can do when they really put their minds and hearts to it, and this sort of leaves me cold. I'm not saying it's just a paycheck record that they made sound like their old stuff to appease some, but I'd rather be singing their praises for going in a new direction (even though I love their old sound) than being forced to play the grumbling ogre.

Rating = ** out of 5 stars.