King Khan and the Shrines – Idle No More

And in any case, how can you get all hot under the collar about an artist who seems to be sporting a necklace of shrimps on the cover?

And in any case, how can you get all hot under the collar about an artist who seems to be sporting a necklace of shrimps on the cover?

http://www.mergerecords.com http://www.konkurent.nl

Ah King Khan… I like King Khan, enjoy the gigs, like the records, but until now never felt that compelled to write about them. Why? Well, I’m not sure; maybe there was just something that was that little bit forced?  However this record, coming on like a Day-Glo Elevators (the opener Born To Die has a classic Elevators groove and flourish to it), packs a much more concentrated punch; and despite its very obvious borrowings it’s confident enough to come on like a righteous breath of fresh air; full of familiar but fresh pop licks. Those horns on Born To Die for instance, come on like a supercharged take on Love’s horns on Forever Changes too, or even something from The Vandellas, but note it never takes away from the whole.

It’s a confident and upbeat record, witness Bite My Tongue and So Wild (which does sound like a Chris Bailey jam).  And why does he keep reminding me of R. Dean Taylor on this LP? Probably my fuddled mind. Anyway this LP’s certainly got soul – Ike Turner or Wilson Pickett soul – with tracks like the shuffling, sliding Thorn In Her Pride or Darkness.  In fact, come to think of it, Bad Boy or Better Luck Next Time are almost in Blues Brothers territory in terms of pastiche. How can he get away with this? Well, he does, it’s a great record and one whose songs such as the fab soul ballad like Pray For Lil or I Got Made stick doggedly in your head for days.

There’s not much else I can add, it’s just worth sticking on if I’m honest. And enjoying in a good old fashioned manner. You know, in the manner of listening to songs, and having a good time listening to them without trying to see if they bring a greater insight on the works of Malevitch or Jung or something. Good do. And in any case, how can you get all hot under the collar about an artist who seems to be sporting a necklace of shrimps on the cover?