Scooter Chronicles

King’s X - “Gretchen Goes to Nebraska”

Tracks:

1. Out of the Silent Planet
2. Over My Head
3. Summerland
4. Everybody Knows a Little Bit of Something
5. The Difference (In the Garden of St. Anne’s-on-the-Hill)
6. I’ll Never Be the Same
7. Mission
8. Fall on Me
9. Pleiades
10. Don’t Believe It (It’s Easier Said than Done)
11. Send a Message
12. The Burning Down

Since I am missing many of my CD’s in my collection, I come up to the second appearance of King’s X in my series. As I mentioned in their previous engagement, I discovered them through MTV and the video for “It’s Love” back in the late 80’s.

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

King’s X formed in Missouri, but soon moved to Houston where there was a growing Christian rock scene. Eventually they signed with Metal Blade and released their first album in 1988. This is their second album, released in 1989. The band will be releasing their new album titled “XV” this coming May.

“Gretchen Goes to Nebraska” was the second King’s X album I bought, having gotten “Faith Hope Love” (the band’s third album) first. Right away I liked it more. It was more consistent. Like many of the albums after, King’s X has many songs that are better then anything on “Gretchen”, but those albums are also filled out with others that are not nearly as good as anything on “Gretchen”.

The album opens with an almost nod to the band’s influences. Rather spacey at times, with voices in the background. It is reportedly also named after the fames C. S. Lewis novel. “Pleiades” follows in the same vain, and very nicely might I add. “Over My Head” chances the pace to more of a rocking trio sound. It’s lyrics are very basic. However, it also one of the few songs where the band members bring their faith to the forefront. It is also a great example of how a band can sound like a really fast hard rock band, without really playing at a fast tempo.

“Summerland” (not named after the novel of the same name by Michael Chabon, which came out years after this album) is a great show of dynamics, “Everybody Knows a Little Bit of Something” shows great arrangement skills, and “The Difference” highlights all the band members ability to sing and change gears with this mostly acoustic song.

“Mission” is a statement song, taking a shot at those preachers always looking for money, and a those that just go through the motions.

Who are these people behind the stained glass windows
Have they forgotten just what they came here for
Was it salvation or “scared of hell”
Or an assembly of a social get-together

I always found these interesting, and sometimes they come to mind when at church (and not judging others, but myself).

“Fall on Me” is probably the fastest and most straight ahead rock tune on the album. I used to listen to it often before my floor hockey games in college. “Don’t Believe It (It’s Easier Said than Done)” fits well with the rest of “Gretchen”, but sounds more like it was left off the debut album, sounding more like those songs. “The Difference” ends the album, with Ty taking the lead vocals. Like quite a few of their earlier albums, the final track of the album has a certain quality about it. This one is no exception. Musically it’s lighter then most of the other songs, and the fade out of the song goes on for what feels like forever.

As part of the liner notes there was a short story to go along with the album, written by Jerry Gaskill. It is a mix between “Alice in Wonderland” and the Wizard of Oz” so put by Rolling Stone in their original review of the album. You can find in HERE, if interested in reading it.

A very consistent release from an incredible band of musicians. Like with all of the albums in this series, I never get tired of listening to it.