There are five songs on offer here from piano-led Lancaster quartet SUPERKINGS. The first of the bunch, ‘Nathan Rosen’ has a strong melody, and there is an ‘uptight’ feel that helps rather than hinders matters, driving you on as the structure of the song winds in on itself. Innovative stuff, and very well done!
‘Hey Boy’ isn’t half bad either, spurred on by a country guitar lick, with the narrative showcasing the best aspects of the oddly endearing vocal. I like the dampened down acoustic rhythm, and the near falsetto half whispers of this oddball tale of the everyday. It makes me think of Preston’s railway station, and I wonder what it’s like in the daytime.
I try hard not to cross-reference by likening a particular artist’s music directly to that of another (others find the reference points useful though, and I’m not knocking that method of appraisal). What I will say in criticism of this collection is that it makes it very difficult for me to refrain from doing so. I think it would be the band that would least appreciate the comparisons, however accurate. For two of these songs, I reckon I can guess the artist, album, and tune that provided the ‘inspiration’. Not good.
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The band are technically good, that much is staring you in the face – The demos are good quality recordings from accomplished musicians. Accomplished musicians however do not equal great songs. I believe it is about artistic perspective, ideas. With these in abundance I don’t think it matters whether you can play or not. Fifty per cent of this is plagiarism, and nothing throws you off the scent. It’d be a proper shame if Superkings didn’t concentrate on their strengths and think on their own two feet.
No good having the gift of storytelling at your fingertips when there’s just no stories to tell. That’s like forming a band cos it’s ‘cool’.
That’s only one opinion though.
http://www.superkings.org
www.myspace.com/thesuperkings
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