Released 27/09/2010, Silva Screen Records
The sequel. One of the hardest things to get right in many forms. For every Aliens, Godfather II and Hot Shots! Part Deux there’s a million more like Matrix Reloaded, Porky’s II, and Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Okay, that last example is not a direct sequel but Shatner meets God, questions him, then blows him up with Photon torpedoes. Still, at least he had the musical career to fall back on. Which brings me nicely (kind of) to album sequels, which are probably harder than film sequels to pull off. “It’s not as good as their first album” has been said trillions of times about uncountable bands. Personally, I think that first album has a lot of stigma attached to it, and by the time the second one rolls around the honeymoon period has well and truly worn off, and you are hurling knives at each other across the Christmas turkey whilst Aunt Agnes watches in horror, trying to hold her wig at bay.
It doesn’t help when the first album is critically acclaimed. Remember when Kings Of Leon where critically acclaimed? God I hate them now. Let’s take glam-soul-folk quarter The Duke & The King, named after characters from Huckleberry Finn ( probably a good idea, seeing as this review is of their second album).
Their first album, Nothing Gold Can Stay was a real gem, not as well known as some but ranked highly by many. It was the Daily Telegraph’s album of the year, finished 4th in The Times list, nominated for the Uncut Music Award 2009, and received plaudits from people who know what plaudits are, as well as playing on Jools Holland. Comparisons with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Sly & The Family Stone, and my personal favourite from the BBC review, “like Pink Floyd soundtracking a western” can only help build them up. So can they finally make it out of the wastelands, all cattle intact, and head for the golden shores of Mexico, or are they doomed to wander the prairies until they find their last chance saloon? Hopefully it’s not that serious.
“Gloria” is a Gloria-ous way to start an album. A good old fashioned folk love song that just sounds beautiful, almost shimmering like the gold in a pimp’s tooth. “Shine On You” is bluesy and stripped back, and anything that has a harmonica gets my vote. Perfect for a summer’s day, if only it wasn’t nearly October and I didn’t have the heating on.
“Shaky” is instantly more upbeat, despite its lyrical content: “Baghdad, she’s a mean old town/I get the feeling she don’t want me around.” Spot the political meaning. Further lyrics include “the Jackson Five grew up so fast” and “just come and shake that country ass.” It’s actually a sweet, delicate song, with a nice video that shows that one of the band members is Ned Flanders turned hillbilly. “Right Now” is a slow burner, a song that slowly works its way up from its distorted, dream-like opening to a soulful, stomp at the end. Very good indeed. “Hudson River” doesn’t quite match up to the rest. It’s pretty enough, just a touch too languid and stagnant, more like the River Thames after a boat party gone wrong.
Simi Stone takes the lead on “No Easy Way Out” and the world is a better place once more. A delightful country-esque romp that showcases Simi’s voice perfectly. More would be no bad thing. “You And I” opens with more intriguing lyrics- “love is a coke dealer’s daughter/Love is a slave ship at sea.” The song itself seems a bit disjointed, the verse/chorus flow not really working. “Children Of The Sun” opens with what at first seems to a scene from Apocalypse Now, but is revealed to be only machine-gun like drumming. The lyrical performances in this song are a bit too OTT, and the lyrics themselves are almost stereotypical. Like everything else it’s all orchestrated nicely, but doesn’t have that oomph! factor.
“Have You Seen It?” returns to the bluesy undertones of the album’s opening, and again sees an improvement, though it’s not particularly memorable (see oomph! factor above). Final song “Don’t Take That” seems to be a poor attempt at Jeff Buckley, and the backing vocals seem unintentionally funny, which don’t really help proceedings.
The truth is that this album has come out only a year after the last one, which is always difficult. Time is both weapon and weakness; release too soon and it’s rushed, release after too long and the impetus can be lost. In this case it’s probably too soon, but there’s enough on here to suggest that further releases will be worth looking out for. On a hit and miss ratio, there’s more hits than misses, and the hits are generally very good, but the misses do really hold it back. As far as sequels go it’s no Empire Strikes Back, but it’s definitely no Phantom Menace.
6/10
Posted In Album Reviews, Sep 27 2010.
Words - Paul