A lot has happened to the King Blues since the release of their previous album ‘Save the World, Get the Girl’. Half the group quit for a start, sighting long running tensions, but for the rest of the band life has never been better, becoming more and more popular – It could be said that they stand on the edge of greatness. New album ‘Punk and Poetry’ could make or break them. But does it deliver? The answer in short, is yes and no. It is an album packed with ideas, both lyrically and musically, which, when it works, works fantastically, but when it doesn’t, often falls flat.
The album opens with the intro ‘The Last of The Dreamers’ and then it really kicks in with the ferocious ‘We Are Fucking Angry’ – the heaviest King Blues song released to date. Complete with swirling keyboards and hardcore riffs being angry is somewhat an understatement here. The album then bursts ‘Into World On Fire’ which takes the sound perfected on previous album’s ‘Lets Hang The Landlord’ and continues it with lyrics about how generic and stale the media has made our lives, with a chorus catchier than syphilis. Last year’s ‘Headbutt’ is also included which gives the album a refreshing lift towards the end.
‘The Future Is Not What It Used To Be’ and the filler track ‘Does Anybody Care About Us’ dabbles with pop-punk with less effect on the latter song, probably the most forgettable track.
Elsewhere the album delves into reggae territory evolving the sound that most fans fell in love with on ‘Under The Fog’. The songs are substantially beefed up using all the instruments at their disposable to craft songs that could sound equally huge and yet still work if they were stripped down to the bare bones.
Unfortunately the album does present some problems. It is fine to try and combine styles of music, it is something the King Blues can do well but ‘Dancehall’ is not one of those moments. Perhaps the most unique track on the album it sticks out like a 1920’s dad dancer at your coolest friend’s wedding. Songs ‘5 Bottles Of Shampoo’ and ‘Shooting Fascists’ King Blues fans will instantly relate it musically to ‘What If Punk Never Happened?’ and ‘Duck and Cover’ however not nearly as good. A nod to the past is fine but the new material should at least try to better the old.
Overall the album is a competent successor to ‘Save The World, Get The Girl’, many may argue its superiority. On first listen it may even alienate some King Blues fans. Persevere however, and you will find that this album grows as the hooks bury themselves deep in your skin you’ll find yourself unexpectedly singing aloud at inappropriate moments. The King Blues have progressed with ‘Punk and Poetry’ and yet managed to keep that angry London charm that made fans fall in love with the band. The political undertones are still there but they aren’t so in your face that it takes away from the music. Whether this album turns them into the stars they are threatening to be, only time will tell, but with ‘Punk and Poetry’ the King Blues have made great record that they can be proud of, however well it does.
