|
Black Like Sunday | 
 enlarge | Artist: King's X
Label: Metal Blade
Category: Music
Buy New: $17.98
New (33) Used (14) from $6.75
Rating:  68 reviews
Sales Rank: 84535
Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 14439
UPC: 039841443929
EAN: 0039841443929
ASIN: B000095J1L
Release Date: May 20, 2003
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
| |
| Tracks:
| • | Black Like Sunday | | • | Rock Pile | | • | Danger Zone | | • | Working Man | | • | Drams | | • | Finished | | • | Screamer | | • | Bad Luck | | • | Down | | • | WOn't Turn Back | | • | Two | | • | You're The Only One | | • | Johnny | | • | Save us |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 63 more reviews...
 Kings X - I Seem To Be In The Minority, But I Really Love This Album July 20, 2007
"Black Like Sunday" is an album of previously unreleased material that stretches all the way back to the beginning of the band. I seem to be in the minority here as this disc seems to get really trashed by a lot of Kings X fans, but I have to admit that I really love it. This is all old material that was re-recorded for this album. Yes, some of it sounds a bit dated, but I still really dig it. The band actually stretches out instrumentally on the almost 12 minute track Johnny. A lot of fans seem to look at this as unneeded noodling, but I wish Kings X would do more stuff like this. I have always found it frustrating that a band so instrumentally competent never seems to want to show it off keeping most of their compositions in the 3 to 4 minute range. There are several great songs on this album as well, "Black Like Sunday", "Rockpile", "Screamer", and several others. I really find it surprising how much many Kings X fans loath this album. Personally I think it is great and find this more satisfying than a lot of the band's more recent works.
 A Big Disappointment for a Long-time Fan June 26, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It pains me to give a King's X album such a low score. I mean, I own the entire catalog, I've seen the band live at least ten times, and have even had beers with the guys after a show. I remember hearing them for the first time as a kid watching late-night TV when their video for Over My Head made a splash for a while on MTV. I've been a fan ever since. But, alas, I have to be truthful and honest about this collection, as nothing less will benefit the band or fans.
This is a sub-par album for any band, let alone one as stellar as King's X. As many have already mentioned, it's a modern recording of a bunch of rehashed throw-away tunes that didn't make it onto their first album, Out of the Silent Planet. They were put in the circular file then, and that's honestly where they should have stayed. The sound is dated, the structures are boring, the lyrics are juvenile and banal...need I go on? It's cheesy, 1980s pop-rock that is barely saved by the fact that it being played by a band with incredible execution.
Screamer is novel enough, but that's the problem: it's merely a novelty song to show off Doug's screaming ability. Rock Pile has a decent enough verse, but the chorus is sickeningly goofy. Johnny is the epic tune that doesn't justify its epic length...Ty's long solo is the most pointless, meandering bunch of swoops and ambient sounds he's ever put together into a single chain. The title track is passable.
Honestly, this album should be avoided by anyone except collectors. It is definitely not the place to start if you're just trying to get into King's X. If you really want to support this band, buy their latest CD, Ogre Tones, which is an excellent, excellent album. It has a great variety of sound, and should satisfy both their later fans that are used to the "heavy" version of King's X as well as their earlier fans that long to hear the soaring guitar and Beatlesesque harmonies. I'm a fan of both eras, truly, and I think it's their best CD since Please Come Home Mr. Bulbous, and possibly since Dogman (another awesome disc that everyone should own).
Avoid this one, but don't avoid King's X. I'm one of those music nerds who owns like 1500 CDs, and if I had to give up all but, say, 100 of them, I would take up slots in that batch for all of my King's X CDs. This is one of the best overall rock bands still recording that hasn't ever sold out and keeps pumping out great tunes. They deserve many a listen...just don't start with Black Like Sunday.
Some people are idiots June 2, 2006
0 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is what stevering or whatever his name put in the first line of his "review"
"I don't even have to buy this CD to know the direction that the band have taken"
What kinda idiots does this? Well ALOT of them! Too many people review stuff they never listned too.
Why put a negative spin on something you've never heard?? Are you trying hurt the band? Do you have mental issues? did the band let you down somehow and your getting back at them?
Thisis a great cd worthy of your money.
 This album is the acoustical equivalent of an '80's party. April 27, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This album is the acoustical equivalent of an '80's party: Pleasing escape into a punk-past, but riding a little tight in the crotch.
It's so bad --it's good!
I've been a King's X fan since 1989 or so. The epic Gretchen was the first I heard, and like everyone else - it blew me away. I saw them live - finally - when they came to Saskatoon, SK just last week... An incredible experience long overdue!
Only a band with a fan-base as well-established as KX could have pulled off this album (for what it is). Black Like Sunday is NOT likely an album which will woo prospective K-X listeners; the songs are just so ancient. While the title track, Rockpile, Dreams, Working Man, Bad Luck, Won't Turn Back, etc. do smack of garage-punk-band lyrics/cadence from the '80's, their contemporary performance is, of course, flawless. These songs won't win any originality awards. That said, I think that vintage stripped-down sound works well for songs like Finished, Screamer, Down, Two, and Johnny. These ones are keepers.
If you're looking for the latest, greatest King's X CD, look elswhere. (Perhaps the trio just got tired of hearing people whining for them to remake "the old sound"?) If you are already a longtime fan and want to cringe nostalgically together at gawdy sonic roots... look no further.
I'm glad they released this less-than-serious album. Now I'm looking for them to move on.
 And so it is.... February 20, 2006
0 out of 12 found this review helpful
I don't even have to buy this CD to know the direction that the band have taken.
As in the other major 3 piece letdowns, Rush, this band has had enough of creativity and chosen a sedentary direction for their music. Pretty much everthing after "King's X" was mediocre, AT BEST. You can always tell a band's most inspired work, and it's almost ALWAYS at the beginning of their fame. Gosh, these guys used to KICK A**. I don't know what happened. Maybe they do, but they're not talking.
You know, it's really COOL and eclectic to have solo careers, but not at the mercy of the collective collaboration. I listened to a little of ALL of their solo stuff and it just seems that some people just don't GET that they're meant to play TOGETHER AS A BAND...... Their individual efforts just don't stand on their own merits. I wouldn't know what it was like to be a "professional musician" but I'd be willing to bet it's a little like living too long inside your own ego and not having a chance to step out every once in a while for an unbiased, fresh look at what you've become. Kind of like a heroin addict, I would imagine.
Doug (or as he eclectically likes to call himself "dUg"), Ty and Jerry, you guys are the ultimate band, and had the right idea on "Gretchen". Once you've painted your masterpiece, I guess everything else pales by comparison. Considering the kind of lousy excuse for music that is out there these days, you guys still rock.
|
|
|
Copyright 2006 - CD Shopper | |
