record review: Crash Kings (eponymous debut)

Upon first glance, one might think that LA’s Crash Kings have been releasing LPs for a good few years—both by virtue of their handle on songwriting and the because of the reassuringly familiar sound which infiltrates their cleverly crafted debut album. The precision with which they go about writing their piano driven songs will draw up memories of yesteryear: do you remember the key-mania of the mid-2000s?

Other than “Mountain Man”, their foot stomping, bass heavy album opener, there are no anthems on this album. No head spinning themes, no cryptic messages. Just songs. Songs that happen to lack guitar but still sound brazen and powerful.

The album hosts a good balance of bubblegum tracks (“It’s Only Wednesday”) and heavier, Audioslave-esque numbers (“You Got Me”) so if you’re seeking monotony, look elsewhere. “Saving Grace” delivers like an American Muse, replacing Bellamy’s haunting croon with something a bit more sprightly.

Can music be innovative if it’s been done a thousand times before? If executed in the vein of Crash Kings, the answer is unequivocally yes. Think of the last time you heard earnest, unapologetic piano rock worthy of your time. My point exactly.

3/5

Crash Kings - Mountain Man [mp3]

dates:
Apr 28, 2010 Sunfest West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, FL
May 1, 2010 Edgefest Dallas, TX
May 2, 2010 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion The Woodlands, TX
May 3, 2010 Emo's (inside) Austin, TX
May 6, 2010 Club Congress Tucson, AZ
May 22,2010 WBOS Earth Festival Boston, MA
June 4, 2010 Sumemrfest Milwaukee, WI
Jun 5, 2010 First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre Tinley Park, IL

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