I Own Kings

Aren’t you tired of garage rock yet? Isn’t scuzz punk grating your ears yet? Or do Hives still sound fresh and exciting to you? Still? Remember the Pixies? That was fresh. S.Rock Levinson remember the Pixies. Oh god yes, they do. And now so do I. I’m not implying that they were ever forgotten but every once in a while you need something a bit different to remind you what made you grin. And if the Pixies reference is maybe too obscure for some of your tastes (not a patronisation, just the truth) then try their other trick: sounding like the _Strokes _with a mission that has a purpose other than capital accumulation. I am not among the Strokes haters, you must understand. It’s a good thing. S.Rock is a good thing. They have style, vigour and attitude. Maybe even a little panache. I’m not tired of this. It will take a while to get tired of this. They say you can have too much of a good thing. So cut down on the rest of it and get S.Rock.

After they appeared a quarter hour late, I thought *I Own Kings *were going to have to work hard to make an impression of me. It took about a second or two. I knew it was going to be loud, but it was really bloody loud and surprisingly funky: Ooh. The keyboards doing their job, I guess. It’s maybe slightly more difficult to pin down a comparison to I Own Kings. Maybe this is one of the freshest things I’ve heard in a while. Maybe _that’s _the reason I had a mile-wide smile on my face for the duration. Maybe _that’s _why I don’t know anyone who dislikes them. Maybe _that’s _why I can’t wait to see them again. Maybe they make you wonder exactly who _does _own the kings. Maybe *you *own the kings. It sure as hell feels like it when you see them.

It was good. It was _too _good. I was left wondering why both of these bands are left unsigned. Do you have a reason?