Deliriou5?

Item: King Of Fools
Author: Keith Giles

King Of Fools

(1997)

Reviewed by Keith Giles

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Furious? Records / Sparrow RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth1998

modern rock worship

Once in a while an album comes along that defines a generation--once in a very rare while there comes a band that is so full of vision and hope and promise that they change the way we listen to music. They change our ideas of what music can do. Prepare yourself music fans. The British are coming and they're ready to take this country by storm.

Deliriou5? is a Christian band for the next millennium. In fact, many of their ads proclaim that they are "the future of worship music." Though that is uncertain, if there is any justice in the world they'll be the future of Christian Alternative Rock. If the first Delirious? Project didn't convince you, this one will absolutely blow you away.

The CD opens with "Sanctify" as we eavesdrop on vocalist Martin Smith whispering to his Savior:

Here I am in that old place again
Down on my face again.
Crying out, I want you to hear my plea,
Come down and rescue me.
How long will it take?
How long will I have to wait?
And all I want is all You have.
Come to me, rescue me,
Fall on me with your love

It only gets better from there. In fact, I'd be willing to wager that if you don't completely love the song "Deeper" with its U2 meets Radiohead vibe that you probably don't like rock music. Or maybe you've lost a pulse. "Deeper" is a prime candidate for the Alternative Rock Song of the Year Award, and if the ballots were cast today, this song would claim the prize. The swirling, driving bass and drums help showcase an infectious guitar riff and a maddeningly catchy melody line that you'll be humming for days after you first hear it. Of course, with many albums nowadays that's all you get for your $15.99, but with King of Fools the great songs have only just begun. By the time the third song kicks in you're hooked. That song is "Revival Town" and it just plain rocks the planet! The words are hopeful and poignant:

Well I've got a message to bring.
I can't preach but I can sing
And me and my brothers here
Gonna play redemption hymns...
Revival town
That's what they're calling this place now
Revival town.

To best describe this band you'd have to close your eyes...(go ahead, close 'em)...and picture the guitarist from Radiohead jamming with the bassist from U2 and the rhythm section from the Verve and then pretend that they all get saved and start a worship band that plays bars and fills stadiums and gives altar calls and...oh heck, open your eyes, you might as well just go on out to the nearest record store and experience the majesty yourself.

This band, this album and these songs could well be the trumpet sound that America's CCM has needed for many years now to wake up, smell the coffee and get real. If you miss this CD, you'll be searching for it in a few years and paying way too much for a classic like this.

5 tocks