King's X

Item: Live All Over the Place
Author: Brendan Boughen

Live All Over the Place

(2004)

Reviewed by Brendan Boughen

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Label Metal Blade RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2004

alternative rock hard rock progressive rock

Twenty-four years, ten studio albums, and hundreds of acclaimed live performances would have yielded several official releases by other bands at this stage of their career. For die-hard King's X fans, it's certainly something we have been hoping, sometimes pleading, for. (Cue my standard whine about never seeing this band live due to my antipodean location!)

With the long wait now rewarded by this double album, I am left speechless by what is a planet-sized gift to the faithful fan base.

With songs spanning their entire career, these live renditions have been hand picked from what sound like small club shows on very recent tours. (Interestingly, there is no list of concert dates referenced against the tracks.) As such, they must be the cream of the crop. Every song surpasses its original studio recording with exponentially increased passion. With stunning improvisation and extended solos, recorded with crispness, depth and clarity this double album is nothing less than a brilliant career in a nutshell.

I mean, really ... eight-minute versions of "Over My Head" and "Cigarettes," a nine-minute version of "Moan Jam," the cover of Hendrix's "Manic Depression" with a guest appearance from Pearl Jam's bassist Jeff Ament, and a glorious seven song acoustic set ... there is nothing about this album which disappoints. The band sounds pumped, energized, and devastatingly tight throughout, with the few wrong notes or chords creating no distraction. Beyond the music, they have packaged the album beautifully. The cover image is striking, notably with the return to the traditional band logo, and the CD booklet looks great, with some superb live action shots of the band, on stage and behind the scenes.

One could perhaps quibble the song selection. Featuring songs from almost every album since 1988's Out of the Silent Planet, there is sadly -- and surprisingly -- nothing from either their fourth and most successful self titled album, or the avant-garde Please Come Home Mr Bulbous from 2000. For the most part, it is the standards and the crowd-pleasers; "Groove Machine," "Dogman," "Visions," "We Were Born to Be Loved," "Goldilox," etc.. That's certainly enough to satisfy. If only there was room for a third disc!

Notable too is the lucid, rhymed 'preaching' from Doug in the improvised breaks of several songs. King's X have never been a political band, but in "Believe" he takes very direct aim at religion, the media, and the current state of the American mind. Other interludes take shots at the Christian music scene, which ultimately betrayed Doug and those who tried to put his God in a box. Be warned, Doug's not afraid to be himself anymore and spout explicit language to make his point. Squeamish Christians may balk at some of the language and concepts that slip in between the verses. My advice; get over it.

Now that an official live release is a reality, I now know why this band is so great. It can be summed up in one word; honesty. There is a distinct lack of pretension in their music, lyrics, and their execution. At no point in their career have I ever thought that King's X had sold-out. I might have been surprised at their choice of direction on several albums. Indeed, my words from my last, somewhat unflattering review of King's X's last album on this site did note that "There are many things a band that has achieved legendary status can do to avoid facing up to the fact that they have run out of good, new musical ideas. They can release live albums, covers albums, a second best-of collection, or as in the case of Black Like Sunday, re-recording 'songs from the vault' (that is, rehashing old material)."

Looking back on that negative assessment of King's X's recent studio work in the light of this new release, I realize that to love the music of King's X means having a willingness to embrace mystery. They have always been an oddity in the music industry; often acclaimed, but never quite cracking the big time. In the end however, King's X might be fallible, but they are never dishonest. They do, as Pinnick affirms throughout this CD, believe in themselves and follow through.

This is also not to diminish the grand work that Live All Over the Place is. It is a milestone, a celebration of all that the band has achieved musically over the last two decades. The band sounds stronger and more resolute than ever. With the side projects flowing thick and fast from all three members (Gaskill's solo effort, The Jelly Jam, Poundhound and other Pinnick collaborations) one can only look forward to another 24 years of rock'n'roll genius from the one band at heart of this holy trinity from Texas.

Thanks guys. Again, with love from a devoted fan.

5 tocks