Customer Rating:      Summary: a little dissapointing, but ok Comment: Well, its not nearly as good as Until We Felt Red, and there are some really weak tracks like Pull Me Out Alive, which is really dumbed down and has a very simple structure, almost sounds like Tegan and Sarah or something. The music seems to lack the creativity of her previous efforts, and many of the instrumental songs sound underdeveloped, as in they come off as sections of a larger work that doesn't quite complete. The guitar work isn't nearly as interesting as her other records, with the exception of Air and Kilometers.
But that being said, its still not a horrible album, and it does grow on you a bit, so its worth a download. The best tracks are, Saving Days in a Frozen Head, and Air and Kilometers.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Dreaming of Revenge Comment: Most of the songs on this album remind me of video games from the 90's. Kaki King has a sweet, pop-ish sounding voice that appears in some of the songs (many without vocals). Her guitar playing is amazing/percussive, which I think is the best part of this album.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Kaki evolves further from her roots, too far for me Comment: I can almost repeat my review of "... until we felt red," where I wrote "I was at a Kaki King concert last night. I wasn't expecting to like her new material as much as the old, but came away quite impressed." However, this latest concert was a few months back, and I'm still ambivalent about this new album. Kaki goes further in the direction she took with "... until we felt red." Since I like her first two albums best, anything different has to win me over. I like the songs on this album that most resemble her earlier work, but unfortunately the rest isn't that great. There aren't enough of the former to carry the album as a whole.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Clearer than Previous Album, Still Many Possibilities to Develop Comment: The direction of Kaki King's 4th album, Dreaming of Revenge, is similar to her 3rd, Until We Felt Red--self-indulging ambient rock. But several elements have made the new work clearer. Each song is more clearly outlined, rather than blurred under the total album concept. King's vocal style, which has become more conventional, also helps making the sonority tighter. The contrast between King's guitar and string trio/quartet on three tracks adds tonal variety to the album. Still, several points to improve remain. For one detail, drums, played by King on several tracks, could be more powerful. For a bigger picture, the music could have featured King's guitar virtuoso more. While undoubtedly an excellent performer, as a recording artist, King still seems to have many possibilities to develop.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Kaki is King Comment: I'm not a huge instrumental music fan. Yes, I appreciate fantastic musicians, but still I can rarely sit through an entire album of instrumental music (I need a chorus a bridge, etc.). That is precisely why I am so appreciative of this album. I've always known Kaki to be an incredible guitarist, but this album brings her up volumes in my book. Why she didn't sing all the time, I'll never know, because I LOVE her lyrics and her voice. I love this album, front to back... and have NO problem with the instrumental tracks...in fact I love them. Standout "singing" tracks are Life Being What It Is, Pull Me Out Alive and Saving Days in a Frozen Head. Standout instrumental tracks are Sad American, Montreal, Open Mouth and I Need a Girl Who Knows a Map... I just about named almost all of the tracks (and I can't say there is a bad apple in the bunch), which means you might as well buy the album. I can't say enough good about Miss Kaki King.
|