King's X

Item: Best of King's X
Author: Steven S. Baldwin

Best of King's X

(1997)

Reviewed by Steven S. Baldwin

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Atlantic RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth1997

alternative rock hard rock progressive rock

The Best of King's X is a clear-cut case of: "You can please some of your fans some of the time, but you can't please all of your fans all of the times. "

Boasting fourteen of their greatest hits from five albums and three brand-new cuts, a King's X compilation of this stature should be an easy crowd pleaser. In truth, taking a trip down memory lane with many of these songs is a very happy experience. The album kicks off with "King" from their 1988 debut Out of the Silent Planet and moves on to cover such memorable songs and radio staples as "Summerland," "It's Love," "Black Flag," and "Looking for Love" from 1996's Ear Candy. Additionally, two of the three new songs are also welcome inclusions in the King's X catalogue. The first, "Sally," is a funky rock number that makes up for the obvious omission of "Sometime" from this collection. The even better number, "April Showers," tops it by laying an even more funky groove--so thick that you'll be harmonizing with the band ala Sly and the Family Stone during the break. Neither of these two songs forge wild new territory for the band, nor are they embarrassments. They're more like very well-produced demos that sneaked their way into this disc to offer both some new material and a chance for the band to show their funkier side. On the other hand, the third new track, "Lover," is a lot more like a demo for an unfinished song. It's not completely without its merits, but it's much closer to mediocre than any other song they've ever written. The last track is also a new track, but not a new song. It's a live version of their signature tune, "Over My Head," and it riffs and rolls through ten wonderful minutes, raising the all-important question "When will King's X release a live album?"

So with all that amazing merit, what are the drawbacks? First of all, we fans have grown accustomed to wonderful album artwork, and the Best of with its plain black cover with logo is a big disappointment. The lack of attention to this detail makes you think this collection is just a last ditch marketing effort from Atlantic Records to make a couple of bucks from their departing band. A reasonable hypothesis, I'm sure. Secondly and more seriously, some of the songs included here are questionable choices (this, of course, is a subjective matter). For example: why "Mr. Wilson" instead of "We Are Finding Who We Are"? Why "Cigarettes" instead of "Pretend"? Why "This Train" instead of "Sometimes" or "Mississippi Moon"? The fact that they were only able to offer two or three songs from each of their albums means that your favorite King's X song may not have made this compilation. Bummer. So the real problem with this album is that King's X has created too many great songs. If they were not such a consistently great band composing such exceptional songs, then we would not be in this predicament.

Honestly, folks, The Best of King's X is an ample collection for the fan and a must-have for anyone needing an introduction to the band. You may not like the fact that your personal favorite King's X song is absent, but the strength of the material here is sure to please you some, if not all, of the time. For more on what's going on with King's X these days, see my review of Ty Tabor's solo album, Moonflower Lane.

4.5 tocks