ALEXIS KINGS
I've had to entitle this release from St. Albans based duo Alexis Kings as an EP because that is what it has been described as in all the blurb, but I'm old fashioned and two songs with a running time of eight minutes is a single as far as I'm concerned. It also gives me little chance to really see what this band is all about as the songs are a bit different from each other. Alexis Kings can probably best be described as a indie rock band, focussing on influences such as Arctic Monkeys and Kings Of Leon. Unfortunately, I'm one of the people that finds very little interest in that genre of music, but I'm going to try and be fair.
Opening track '1972' is by far the better of the two songs on offer here. It has a Led Zeppelin, classic rock feel, which suits the lyrics and Brendan Aherne's quite distinctive delivery. It's still not a song that, in any way, sets my pulse racing but is acceptable. Second, and last, track 'Brothers' is even less successful to my ears. It's the sort of full-on, bouncy indie rock that generally makes my toes curl, but something that Radio One will probably pick up as a 'shining example' to modern rock. Yes, I'm being a little sarcastic, but I've seen it happen too many times in the past. If, of course, you judge success and a love of 'rock', based on what a mainstream radio station, TV show or the NME tells you to like, then I suspect you'll find a lot to love about Alexis Kings and I'm sure Aherne and his partner in crime, guitarist Sam Privett will indeed find their niche and a respectable following.
Alexis Kings and their 'Keep It Sexy EP' (a pretty awful title if I'm being honest) are no worse than hundreds of other indie rock bands plying their trade on the pub/club circuit, but they are also no better than the hundreds of cover bands who play 'Sex On Fire' every night of the week and think they are original for doing so!
Opening track '1972' is by far the better of the two songs on offer here. It has a Led Zeppelin, classic rock feel, which suits the lyrics and Brendan Aherne's quite distinctive delivery. It's still not a song that, in any way, sets my pulse racing but is acceptable. Second, and last, track 'Brothers' is even less successful to my ears. It's the sort of full-on, bouncy indie rock that generally makes my toes curl, but something that Radio One will probably pick up as a 'shining example' to modern rock. Yes, I'm being a little sarcastic, but I've seen it happen too many times in the past. If, of course, you judge success and a love of 'rock', based on what a mainstream radio station, TV show or the NME tells you to like, then I suspect you'll find a lot to love about Alexis Kings and I'm sure Aherne and his partner in crime, guitarist Sam Privett will indeed find their niche and a respectable following.
Alexis Kings and their 'Keep It Sexy EP' (a pretty awful title if I'm being honest) are no worse than hundreds of other indie rock bands plying their trade on the pub/club circuit, but they are also no better than the hundreds of cover bands who play 'Sex On Fire' every night of the week and think they are original for doing so!
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Self-released
EP
KEEP IT SEXY
Review by Rick Tilley
RUNNING TIME:
8:45
RELEASE DATE:
10th March 2014
TRACK LISTING
1) 1972
2) Brothers
2) Brothers
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
UK
"It's the sort of full-on, bouncy indie rock that ...Radio One will probably pick up as a 'shining example' to modern rock."
