Three guys + bass + keyboard + drums = rock band? I know, I was skeptical too. I mean, who has ever heard of a rock band without a guitar? (I know my music savvy readers will correct me.) But after a day of solid listening I’ve been made a believer. Apparently some kickass bass playing, strong drum beats, and a non-sissy keyboard does make a pretty cool rock band. Who knew?!
Crash Kings is made up of two brothers, Tony (keyboard/vocals) and Mike (bass) Beliveau and Jason Morris (drums). And apparently a band involving brothers includes a TON of chemistry and really is a lot like Oasis part deux or 75, because these guys do fight, like good siblings should. Although from what I’ve read, they’re not punching each other in the face, so that’s a major bonus or not, I guess it all depends on how bloodthirsty you are. I get all my fight needs met by watching hockey, so… Moving on….
According to drummer Jason Morris:
Brothers have a much closer relationship and are much quicker to fight than strangers or friends who get into a room together to make music. At the same time things move faster because brothers tend to think similarly and ideas get out more quickly.
Of course, if you have siblings, you can relate.
The group formed in 2006 and was discovered by Linda Perry who met Tony while he was working at a restaurant and happened to be waiting on Perry. She signed them to her label, Custard Records, shortly afterward. She hooked them up with Universal Motown and from there they went on to work with producer Dave Sardy, who produced their self-titled debut album, which was released in May last year. They then went on tour with Chris Cornell. They’ve also toured with a wide array of artists ranging from David Cook, Mason Jennings, and Stone Temple Pilots.
I spent a good deal of time trying to classify the sound of this band, and I can’t quite pin point it. Dave Sardy was quoted as saying, “The Crash Kings are the missing link between Queen and Rage Against the Machine.” I’m not sure I totally agree with that, but I guess I don’t disagree either. Although I don’t really see any sort of connection to be made between Queen and Rage Against the Machine, but perhaps that’s just me.
Whatever category you place this trio in, I can guarantee that there won’t be another group that sounds like this. The music alone is wonderfully orchestrated. You don’t even miss the guitar when you’re listening. In fact, there were a few times I swear I heard a guitar, but upon further research I learned that the group uses various tools to add a TON of necessary fullness to their tracks.
With tube overdrive and multiple amps Mike’s bass brings heaviness to the band’s sound. On top of that Tony plays a clavinet (a keyboard with guitar strings), which has been customized with a large whammy bar allowing him to bend notes like a guitar producing an entirely new sound.
The sound of the album varies quite a bit throughout the album. Again, maybe it’s just me. There were a few times where I was faced with the feeling that I’d heard the music before, perhaps in my past life, that I have yet to prove I didn’t live. But then I’m hit with a feeling of newness that makes me like the group even more. I’ve been dealing with a lot of that “Gahhh, kids these days just can’t make good music to save their trendy little souls!!!!” (I’m an old 28…so I can say that.) So when I heard Crash Kings I think a little part of me regained some hope that new music can exist, not just the same old crap re-branded.
Another reason to like these guys, the name of their band, “I came up with the name because we are all very absent minded and accident prone which makes for great Rock and Roll,” says Mike. I KNEW I should have focused my accident prone nature into something productive, you know, like music! If that’s what it takes to make great rock and roll, then I could be the greatest artist ever in the history of music!! (just kidding, talent is a pretty vital too.)
Now onto the good stuff…my favorite songs!!
Mountain Man – This is song has that bit of an edge that I would expect to hear from a rock band. It was also one that struck me with a vague feeling of familiarity, and after the 7th or 8th time I’m thinking I get a little hint of Jack White in the vocals. Or some Josh Todd, from BuckCherry? Either way, it’s a great tune, the bass really carries the tune, and again, you don’t even miss the guitar.
It’s Only Wednesday – I can’t figure out why this song sounds familiar, but I like it. It’s catchy, the keyboard is wonderful, and it has a relatively simple yet thoughtful arrangement. The “faux-guitar”/uber-distorted bass(?) toward the end of the song is just awesome and adds a “rock” feeling to an otherwise pretty poppy song.
14 Arms – Another one of my favorites. I spend most of the time listening to this song trying to dissect the different elements in the song, mostly trying to separate the bass from that pseudo-guitar sound, but I think my ears are broken. The only thing I dislike about this song is that horrible “screaming/singing”, it’s not easy on the ears and actually makes me cringe a little, thankfully it’s not throughout the entire song.
You Got Me – An edgy song that tends to get caught in that place in your brain that loves a good melody. The lyrics are a bit on the “hmmm…” side, but aside from that, the arrangement is composed pretty well, and there parts in the song, like the chorus, when you can really hear the 3 basic elements combine perfectly yet it doesn’t feel stripped down and empty.
My Love – This song gives me flashbacks to listening to The Beatles or Elton John, I can’t quite describe it, but there’s something there…HELP! Either way, it’s a great little song, and I love the keyboard sound driving it forward with the steady march of the drum following close behind.
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On a completely unrelated note: I’m apparently still not back to 100% as far as normal brain function is concerned. (Yeah, that’s what I’m going with, doctors say everything is fine, but it shouldn’t be THIS hard to think. Seriously.) So, sorry my posts aren’t as awesomely awesome as my posts usually are. (hahaha) One of these days I’ll be back in fighting form and kick this blog’s ass like I used to, like that one week back in October. (lol) Thanks for reading, you guys are awesome!
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