Kings X
OGRE TONES
Inside Out USA
Since GRETCHEN GOES TO NEBRASKA, I’ve spent year after year trying to understand the appeal of Kings X. I’ve listened to every album, seen them on a couple of tours, and even interviewed Ty Tabor and Doug Pinnick several times; but never have been able to comprehend what exactly the “lure” is to this band. The band is back once again with a new album, this time on a new label instead of their longtime home Metal Blade. So, the question is, “did switching to the more progressive Inside Out Records make the band more appealing?” An emphatic “NO” is the answer to this question.
Like every Kings X record I’ve ever heard, there’s nothing wrong with this album really. It’s very solid from a production standpoint. The musicians do a solid job of performing the songs. The lyrics seem interesting enough. But like every other release, OGRE TONES is plain and somewhat monotonous. This isn’t to say there aren’t some good moments on this CD. Songs like “Fly”, for example, have some interesting guitars and somewhat interesting vocal stylings from vocalist Doug Pinnick. But over the course of the album, you find yourself not being truly moved by any track. Songs like “Stay” or “Open My Eyes” are good, but don’t leave any impression on you 10 minutes after you hear them. Some of the tracks, like “If”, sound more suited for play in the middle of a Hootie And The Blowfish album than for a band who’s spent their career being labeled as a metal band and playing gigs with bands like Motley Crue.
For their part, each of the musicians does their part to make each song what it is. Guitarist Ty Tabor is always an excellent player. He’s never ultra-flashy, but can play. He has moved away from metal riffs with each passing album. There are songs here, like on “Freedom”, where he could pass for a player on a Tom Petty record. On bass, Pinnick does his part keeping the bottom end of each song moving as he works seamlessly with drummer Jerry Gaskill. “BeBop” is probably the most you recognize their performances musically…although this is probably the worst lyrical song on the album. As a vocalist, Pinnick continues to be the weak link of the band. His delivery once again is pretty dull, and does nothing to lure the listener in or hold them. He can sing, as is evident by songs like “Honesty”, but for the most part, it’s a pretty stale performance.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - SFC Ski
I am not a huge King's X fan, but I think their eponymous 1992 album is their strongest.
2 - DJRadiohead
I won't argue that your conclusions about the album are wrong- but if you haven't found anything to like about King's X after 20 years, I am not surprised you did not find anything now.
3 - Paul Roy
Although I haven't heard this one yet, you're probably right. Their first two albums were awesome, the next few were good, and the last few were not so good. I think they have been sorely missing a good producer to give them a kick in the ass, so I had my hopes up for this new album. They are still a great band to see live. I hope you are wrong about this album.
4 - Tom Johnson
I don't think this is a particularly helpful review - Chris doesn't like the band and doesn't describe the sound of the album at all, which doesn't help anyone in any way. As an admittedly huge fan of the band (but not so huge that I'm blind,) having heard the first song released from the album, I hear a very strong return to form after a few albums spent experimenting - the results of which were hit and miss. I can't say if this one song is representative of the whole album, but the band has obviously seen the weakness that's been on display the past few albums - a lack of a producer, and they hired someone to help them form the sound a bit. What I heard sounds reminiscent of the Ear Candy sound, and that's a GOOD thing.
As a vocalist, Pinnick continues to be the weak link of the band.
This just blows my mind. Are you kidding? Pinnick has one of the strongest "soul" voices in metal. More often than not, if people respond to something about King's X, it's his incredible voice. Chris, what are you smoking?
5 - Phillip Winn
I have long thought that King's X was best when produced by someone other than Ty Tabor, and I was happy to hear the first single from the album. It sounds like the King's X I know and love, with a solid producer.
6 - massivegrooves
This is one of the lamest reviews I have ever read. It is obvious the person doesn't like or get King's X. And honestly that is fine. But statements like the one about Pinnick's vocals, or the Hootie and the Blowfish comment...PUH-LEEEZZEE!!
It helps to know what you are talking about when reviewing something like this...one obvious giveaway is the line about Metal Blade being thier longtime home. They were with Atlantic FAR longer than the few years they released via Metal Blade. At least do your homework before writing/posting something like this in a public space...save a little face next time.
7 - Dan Singleton
I have heard this album and have to say I am surprised by this review. This album is phenomenal, easily their best since "Please Come Home, Mr. Bulbous," possibly since "Faith Hope Love." It also has more of a "heavy Beatles" sound than any King's X album to date. This will easily be on my Top Ten list for the year, probably near the top. I just want to know how you can only give it 6/10 if there's nothing wrong with it. Hum...??
8 - johann marmont
This Clay Akin guy likes Disturbed.
No wonder King's X is beyond his comprehension. DuG just can't pull off the chimpanzee mating call like ole' Dave.
9 - Geoff Robinson
Uh, Doug Pinnick could sing 'Green eggs and Ham' and it would sound amazing. Ty Tabor is a brilliant guitar player. There's missing the boat and then there's living in the desert with no boats to be found. Come on now...
10 - Vinny
Doug Pinnick a weak link?
The guy is obviously joking..or he HASN'T heard King's X before.
I think he is just being silly...give the author a break.
11 - Wiley
I'm sitting here in shock at what I just read!! Doug Pinnick... the weak link? oh my god... I'm a long time fan of this band, and as far as their music goes, the guys have always stayed true to themselves, like it or not. (i like it) I guess I'm one of those folks who never really "got" music critics....hum
dUg rocks!!
12 - Larry
Well, then all of King's X's peers who have long said that they are one of the most underated bands around must be loony and the VH1 Top 100 Rock Bands of All Time at #83 must be loony too. It's ashame that anyone can get on the internet, have a Blog and write such trash as this review.
13 - Troy
I have only heard Alone off the album and I liked what I heard. You either like King's X or you don't. I have liked every album about equally the same with Dogman being my favorite, but what you gotta love about them is that each album is totally different, yet still the same. Noone wants the same album over and over again like all the new bands do. King's X never gets old with me. I do wish they would put out a more progressive, jam album like they almost did with the Live album. Because these guys can jam!!
14 - Pete
This is exactly why people think critics are idiots. If you never "got" the band. Why do you even comment on it. There incredible musicians. And even better live. Doug is an amazing singer.
They`ve written alot of great music. And I hope they continue to. If there so bad. Why have they been around for so long. Looking forward to the new album.
15 - Tim Howard
I used to hate Pink Floyd when I was younger. I never got it. Then, when I finally did - I loved them and Gilmour became my all time favorite guitar player.
In other words, you might not be in the right place to enjoy KX. They are a rocking ass band and they are always light years ahead of whats going on.
your comments about Pinnick deserve an outright bitch slap! That is ridiculus.
Go put on your boy george record and stop using up valuable space and people s time to read your lame ass wanna be articles. You obviously have no taste in music and your momma is so hairy - big foot was taking pictures of her!
Tim
16 - Tony Spilotro
I think our collective verbal beatdown of this kid has (or at least should) end his short, horrible journalism career, and I couldn't be happier about it. At best he should be writing nu-metal album reviews for a junior high school newspaper....
17 - Chris Akin
I've sat band and read all your little comments, and once again, I laugh at all of you pathetic pansies who just don't get it. A review is an opinion - MY OPINION. People that write that a band is great and should be worshipped are not reviewers, they are publicists.
All you pathetic whining losers can continually write about how my review sucks, but the bottom line to it all is King's X never amounted to anything except to the 5,000 fans they have managed to maintain. In the real world, this band is less important than Ashlee Simpson, Britney Spears, Cannibal Corpse, and any other band on the planet that's ever sold a million copies of a record. All you "Beatles" referencers, please look to another Beatles influenced band - Enuff Z'nuff - and consider how that reference helped them as well. Keep your silly comments coming, because the bottom line is that all your praise keeps these guys as a never-was that doesn't even qualify to be a has-been.
Chris
18 - Tim Howard
Yea right, If you actually knew ANYTHING about what you were running your mouth off about - the you would know the countless amount of bands and members of huge bands that credit KX for their influence on them personally and on the musical landscape. No one can remember one or 2 songs from Britanny or Aslee no matter how hard the PR machine tries to cram them down your lame ass throat.
Kx has endured because they lead. Not because they follow the trends where chumps like you tell them the album is great and they buy it and love it for all 2 seconds.
Your obviously some ugly nerd ass chump who feels power in spewing your lame ass opinion. Go back to flopping burgers or swabbing toilets cause Im sure our much better at it. Next time you try and act like you know some history of a band - be careful when they call you out on your obvious lack of (knowledge).
Retire Dickweed!
19 - Chris akin
Who exactly are they leading? They are a never was that never will be. Believe me when I tell you, I wasn't giving Ashlee Simpson or Britney Spears any credit - they suck too. Yet, they've still proven to be far more worthy in the eyes of the majority than King's X ever have or ever will. But keep holding onto your little "cooler than the room" band, Tim! It just proves that you have nothing, mean nothing and base your aggression on inconsequencial nonsense.
And while I go back to my "flopping burgers and swabbing toilets", feel free to check yourself back into a third grade spelling class, dope. I believe the word you were reaching for was "y-o-u-r" and not 'o-u-r' in your final paragraph.
Feel free to have "Gretchen Goes To Nebraska" as the soundtrack to your suicide.
Chris
20 - floorgod
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT CHRIS DETERMINES A BAND OR MUSICIANS SUCCESS BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF ALBUMS THEY SELL. HOWEVER I DONT BELIEVE DUG AND THE BOYS ARE FLIPING BURGERS OR MOPING FLOORS. NO THEY MAKE A NICE LIVING MAKING MUSIC AND LIVING OFF OF THEIR COMPLETLY FAILED CAREER. I BELIEVE ALSO THAT BRITTNEY AND ASHLEY SELL SEX NOT MUSIC. OURS TRULEY OOPS FLOORGOD
21 - John
Just because King's X have not been a massive commercial success does not mean they are not an influential band. The majority of success stories (in terms of sales) have been due to image / marketing / press headlines, and not necessarily down to the quality of the music.
The "problem" that King's X faced when they started out was that people found it hard to label the band. Were they Rock? Metal? Christian? etc, etc. Add this to the fact that they were not headline makers - scandal, trashing hotel rooms, celebrity girlfriends and the like, and you have a band that is incredibly hard to market in the eyes of the music industry. They never were going to release that commercially accessible hit single and so were destined to remain "Media unknowns". The majority of music buying public are not interested in buying quality records with intelligent lyrics and complex music as there is nothing to latch on to. If the image "doesn't fit" there is nothing for the music companies to promote, leading to a lack of publicity and a lack of public awareness. If people do not hear a band, they will not buy the records.
A large amount of successful musicians, and respected journalists have raved about King's X for many years, but as Chris has pointed out, in the eyes of the general public, they are "King's Who?"
All it has needed, is one lucky break, and those not currently in the know will be saying "Who are this fantastic new band? What do you mean this is their 11th album? Why haven't I come across this band before?"
I can't comment on the new album as I haven't heard it yet, but I very much doubt that Doug is the weak link due to the vocals - he hasn't been for 20+ years, so why should he start now? I also don't understand the Tom Petty reference for Freedom. Being the only track I've really heard from the new album, I'm afraid I don't see the connection at all.
I've been a fan since 1989 and will say that I would much rather listen to a bad King's X album (and personally, I don't think there has been one) than the majority of music that the radio stations and music industry have been force-feeding us for the last 50 years or so.
22 - floorgod
ANOTHER THOUGHT. IT IS AMAZING (IF YOU INVESTIGATE THIS BAND) HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE WANTED TO, AND PLAYED WITH THESE LOOSER'S. LIKE GUYS FROME DREAM THEATER. TO GUYS FROM THE ULTIMATE LOOOSER BAND PEARL JAM. WAIT, ARE YOU KIDDING ME, GUYS IN BANDS LIKE THAT WANT TO MAKE ALBUMS WITH THESE LOOSER'S. I GUESS CHRIS DOES'NT INVESTIGATE ANYTHING CONSIDERING THAT HE DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS IN THE (IN DEBTH REVIEW). CHRIS DID YOU KNOW THIS? SORR'Y IM JUST A SIMPLE GUY AND NOT A GREAT WRITER .BUT THAT DOES'NT MAKE ME AN IDIOT. LOOK INTO THE HISTORY OF THIS BAND. AND IF YOU ARE A MUSICIAN, LOOK UP SOME TABS AND TELL ME THAT THEY SUCK. WHATEVER YOU DO YOU WILL FALL SHORT. UNLESS YOU,"YOU VIRTUOSO" ROCK. IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT, I WILL APOLIGIZE.
23 - Jim
This is the most unenlightened, unhelpful review I've ever read. If you're a fan of Chris' reviews or have clicked the "all posts by Chris Akin" link, you will see that he continues his trend of monotonous, dull, witless expressions rife with medeocrity.
Like all of his past reviews, when you read it there's nothing really wrong with it. Except, that he doesn't understand what he's talking about, doesn't talk about things that a reviewer should, uses painfully lifeless language to describe his thoughts, which are preconceived, unconsidered, ill-educated on the subject matter, uninteresting and decidedly monotonous.
I think we all appreciated Chris' work a lot more when he had someone giving him a kick in the butt...someone guiding him...like his kindergarten teacher.
Jim
Columbus, Ohio
24 - Jim
Just read some of Chris' "rebuttals" to comments from the crew.
I guess I was giving Chris too much credit when I suggested that he had actually completed Kindergarten.
Chris, your readers are expressing their OPINION too. Your review wasn't helpful, wasn't smart, wasn't well written, wasn't factual, wasn't good! If you have an education, it didn't show. If you don't, then you should get one. That's all. We're not your mommy & daddy cooing over everything you write and telling you what a good boy you are. We're your audience! And if we're a sorry one then it is that we ever read your hopeless drivel about King's X. You said it right - you "don't get it".
Now here's something that isn't an opinion, Chris: Writers who call their readers "pathetic whining losers" are stupid writers indeed.
Folks, be easy on him. Chris just made poopies and he's still proud of the accomplishment.
Jim
Columbus, Ohio
25 - Howard Wright
I've heard the album and was very pleasently surprised by the old school sound (for example the harmonies and inclusion of more Ty vocals). I've been a rabid fan since I first heard Gretchen... Although I disagree with the reviewer, I can see how KX has underachieved a tad bit over the years, perhaps from lack of respect from the press, or their falling out with Atlantic. Either way, they've kept a homespun approach to their work for awhile now. But as Ty mentioned in a recent interview, they haven't been able to afford high budget production for awhile.
That being said, this is a very good effort, with at least 9 or 10 "iPod-worthy" tunes on it (my barometer for tunes worth keeping). It's good to see the label put some energy behind them. KX hasn't really put out a CD this accessible since Ear Candy (in my opinion).
While they don't roll with the styles like some bands, they've kept a distinct sound these 25 years and cut out their niche of fans. Perhaps they don't have a sound that the media can embrace, but they've somehow been able to make straight-ahead rock tunes that stand up with the best of their peers.
And that type of music never goes out of style.