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Review: 'Kongos'
'Lunatic'   

-  Album: 'Lunatic' -  Label: 'Epic'
-  Genre: 'Rock' -  Release Date: '25th August 2014'

Our Rating:
Can an act backed by a major label like Sony subsidiary Epic really be considered ‘alternative’? It probably shouldn’t really matter. Stateside, they’ve rocketed to the dizzy heights of ‘No.1 Alternative Act in the USA’ and have become the fastest selling artist ever to hit the top spot. It is a major achievement, however you look at it. But seldom does commercial success correspond with artistic quality. How do Kongos balance the two?

‘Lunatic’ certainly has its moments, and if for discursive purposes we take ‘alternative’ to mean different from the slick, mass-produced studio-bound,composed by committee, made-for-radio formulaic, soulless cack that fills mainstream radio playlists and the bulk of TV airtime given to music, then yes, ‘Lunatic’ stands as a very credible alternative.

‘I’m Only Joking’ is a psychedelia-infused industrial pirate stomp, exploding with pomp and theatre. ‘Come With Me Now’ brings a raucous rock swagger ‘I want to Know’ is the track that broke them Stateside, and for those who haven’t heard it (probably most people in the UK), it’s a big and breezy reggae-based pop anthem. It’s also probably one of the album’s weakest track and also the most accessible and commercial.

There are times when ‘Lunatic’ sounds decidedly sane, the banal balladeering of ‘As We Were’ a big yawn. But the gypsy swing of ‘Kids These Days’ and the jaunty stomper ‘Sex on the Radio’ have clear appeal, and the pirate country disco rock of ‘Hey I Don’t Know’ succeeds by virtue of being a spirited effort that bumps and grinds along.

At times, it does feel a little bit ‘novelty’ in its stylings, but on balance, Kongos have got enough songs and a sound that’s distinctive enough to set them apart – especially considering the conservative tastes of the US market.

As such, ‘Lunatic’ is a decent enough album. Are Kongos the next big thing? Probably not, at least over here.
  author: Christopher Nosnibor

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Kongos - Lunatic