What do lo-fi yet up-beat indie rock songs and snowmobile racing have in common? They’re both featured on the Kingdom’s full-length debut, apparently. K1 recounts, in 11 songs, the longest of which is just over 3 minutes, an epic transportation-filled cross-country race. The concept here is strong and executed far better than that of their first EP, which followed the life of NFL hall-of-famer Johnny Unitas as he navigated the solar system, complete with pretentious 20-second tracks with names like “Gamma 68 Yard Line” and all.
The whole racing thing does get a bit tedious, however. Charles Westmoreland, the band’s strangely-enunciating vocalist, sings about every form of transportation he can think of––motorcycles, hydrofoils, snowmobiles, spaceships, police cars, planes and even motorcades––and you soon find yourself growing very curious about where all of this motor sport influence is coming from. Songs with names like “Driver,” “Motorcading,” “Motorcycling,” “Polaris,” “Racer” and “Pilot,” make up about half of the album, yet the rest of seems to have nothing to do with racing, driving or piloting at all.
“Love Is My Nation,” the second track on the album, is a fast-paced, agitated pop song with synthesizers and a blasting chorus. It’s also the first time you notice how fascinating Westmoreland’s singing voice actually is. Him singing “With black and gold all over” sounds more like “I’m block! And go! I’ll owe her!” It’s as if he’s singing with his tongue shoved into his cheek while still enunciating every word as clearly as possible. It’s interesting to listen to, and adds several layers of texture to the songs.
The music is also happy as can be, and happy, in this case, tends to equal catchy. Almost military drumbeats and soaring but concise guitars never let up, save for the 3-minute piano ballad “Polaris,” with its strange chorus, consisting of the line “your leather snowmobile jacket fits like a dream.” The beginning, middle and ending songs, “Driver,” “Racer” and “Pilot,” respectively, are also quieter and recycle much of the same melody––and lyrics––building up to the terrific marching band finale and an image of a pilot who will “be walking down the concourse with my helmet stained with stars.”
K1 sounds good, and if you’re willing to overlook or embrace the oddly frequent transportation references you’ve got yourself a catchy, fun-loving and surprisingly solid listen. Additionally, there is a deeper side to this record that is up for interpretation, if you want it to be, because, seriously, there has got to be some reason for all of the motorcycles.
-February 9th, 2007
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