Scooter Chronicles

King’s X - “King’s X”

Tracks:

1. The World Around Me
2. Prisoner
3. The Big Picture
4. Lost in Germany
5. Chariot Song
6. Ooh Song
7. Not Just for the Dead
8. What I Know About Love
9. Black Flag
10. Dream in My Life
11. Silent Wind

Yet another great band introduced to me via MTV. It was the video for “It’s Love” from the album before this one (”Faith Hope Love”) that caught my attention. What was funny about it was some of the scenes in the video of the guys arguing. What made it funny was that Doug Pinnick is much taller then the others (plus it looked like they sped up the video of those little parts).

(From left): Jerry Gaskill (drums, vocals), Ty Tabor (guitar, vocals), and Doug Pinnick (bass, vocals).

There have been many great music scenes throughout history. And this doesn’t just include rock ‘n roll. But King’s X came from one that is not very well know. In the mid to late 80’s, the Christian rock scene in Houston, Texas was becoming big. Only three bands made an impact though, and two have since gone by the wayside (those being Atomic Opera and the Galactic Cowboys). King’s X was the band that has kept going. The funny thing is that none of the three members are actually from Texas, let alone Houston.

One other thing. They are not necessarily a Christian rock band. They are a rock band that happens to contain members that are Christians. Sure they sneak their faith in there from time to time. One of the highlight tracks on this album, their fourth studio album (though self-titled), is a great example, that being “Chariot Song” which quotes “swing down sweet chariots” from the famous spiritual. There are other times too, but they are hidden, or much more subtle, that you may only pick them up after listening to them many times.

This album was a unique one in the band’s history. I think it really showed a big step forward in their maturity in songwriting. Some of that polished sound though may of come from the producer’s chair. Sam Taylor had co-produced the first three albums with the band. He was also their manager and mentor, considered the “fourth” member of the band. On this one, he was the sole producer. This (I am sure) stemmed from being signed to “big wig” Atlantic Records (the three previous albums were on little known MegaForce Records).

“Prisoner” and “Black Flag” saw a lot of radio airtime (again, “big wig” recording label influence). “Prisoner”, at the time, was the most mature song the band every did, and still sounds very good. Yet very polished. “Black Flag” was, and probably still is, the catchiest song the band’s done. Most of the songs lacked some of the raw emotion present on the first three album, and even some of the later albums. But in this case it helped. Though who is to say what was Sam Taylor and what was the band. The following album, “Dogman”, took another leap forward in maturity, but Sam Taylor was no longer associated with the band.

The thing is, though I loved the first three albums, there were clunkers on all of them. Yet I find myself enjoying every song on this album in some way or another. It turned out to be the most consistent album with a high level of coolness (some of the band’s recent albums are consistent, but not very good).

As much as some of the songs were the best shots at “hit singles” the band had, and gleamed with production polish, there were also some of the hardest, most staccato, and crunchiest guitar sounds on this album then previously. “Chariot Song” with all it’s glory of their faith is still a very hard rocker, as is “Ooh Song” and “What I Know About Love”.

One stand out song in the area of arrangement/production to me is “Dream in My Life”. It starts slow for the first two verses with the lyrics talking about the loneliness of an individual, and how his dream is to be with someone. Then when the bridge comes, he loses his cool, saying that he understands, but he can’t just push away the emotions. Ty sings the verses, and is appropriate seeing that his voice is more adept for that kind of performance, while Doug takes the bridge, using his soulful and powerful voice, almost yelling. It’s a great song.

And yes, Jerry can sing, too. As always, they use these skills with harmonizing from time to time, or using countermelodies with the other two singing, or just switching voices during the songs. Honestly, Jerry and Ty sound a bit similar, but with Doug’s voice, it adds a nice variety to the songs.

One other highlight is the album’s opening track “The World Around Me”. For some reason I always pictured in my mind the band performing this on Saturday Night Live. Don’t know why.

A lot of King’s X fans will tell you how great their first six albums were, and might even throw in the seventh “Tape Head”. But hardly any of those fans, I am sure, would list this self-titled album as their favorite. (Some even say that this album is what started the downward trend, with only “Dogman” deviating off that path.) I am not sure what one I would call my favorite, but I find this one in my player probably the most often.

Final Note: I have heard/read rumors that this album was originally going to be called “Since Hector Was a Pup”, but the band dropped it after seeing what the artist came up with after asking him to do the album cover.