|
King Kool
Yeah Yeah Liberte
©2007 independent
http://www.kingkool.co.uk/
I have thought of starting a blog titled "Whatever Happened To So And So", representing this small niche within
circles as "Christian rock". The blossoming idea is squelched most of the time simply from the fact that many of
the bands I have enjoyed had a small, but rabid following to boot while they existed. Hence, a Wikipedia archive is written,
amounting to little more than a passing nod about the artists.
I used to really enjoy what came out of the shoestring budget of Blonde Vinyl records. This is where I discovered Tribe
Of Dan, the brainchild of Dan Donovan. Hailing from the UK, Donovan had a dark, almost haunting edge to his music. This was
right up my alley.
I rediscovered Dan Donovan a few years ago while surfing the net. I am content being a treasure digger these days, as
some gems have helped bridge the gap from Tribe Of Dan to King Kool: a number of solo releases and a couple under the name
The Swamp Cranks.
"Yeah Yeah Liberte" is loud, raucous garage rock at its' finest. The White Stripes made guitar and drums, without
any bass guitar, acceptable to the mainstream. This premise helps to cleanse the palette and open the floodgates for other
idioms within rock and roll.
There is an infectious vibe throughout King Kool's second release that is bluesy and in your face telling one to "Crank
it up, and have a cigar." Donovan and Joe Mason's heroes are the Pixies, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Motorhead, the Stooges, and
Sabbath. Hope that doesn't push anyone away. Much of our little "niche" owes a great deal to the mainstream. Standout
tracks include "Nanny Town", "Boot Beautiful", "Kingpin" (love the dirty harmonica), and "Play
Ze Machine". Actually, the whole album is a sonic ride for the ears.
Please pay attention to the work of Dan Donovan. Invention and experimentation are the order of the day. This puts a crank,
so to speak, in the homogenized machine of what is called "Christian rock".
10 of 10 clicks
thecannyshark
January 2008
|
