XV
Artist: King's X 
Label: Inside Out Records
Length: 14/52:07

Let's clear one thing up right away: the only way this is King's X's fifteenth album is if you count the Atlantic Records promo only release of _Building Blox_.  Either someone can't count, or the title means something else.  

Now, regarding the music.  In a way, XV reminds me of the much criticized Manic Moonlight: there are moments here that are as good as anything the band has ever done.  There are some obviously lesser songs, and a few head-scratchers as well.

The positive: "Pray" is a rocker that combines the feel of albums Ogre Tones and Manic Moonlight, and takes a shot at those who live their lives "holier than thou".  "Julie", the lone track sung by drummer Jerry Gaskill, shines.  "Go Tell Somebody", originally intended to be the title track, combines rock with gospel. "Stuck" and "Alright" are heavy numbers that could fit on any King's X disc. "Blue" harkens back to the Please Come Home Mr. Bulbous era.  "Repeating Myself" has some nice Beatle-like moments, and "Move" will cause concert audiences to do exactly that.

The questions: A lot of these tracks sound like solo efforts.  "Repeating Myself" and "I Don't Know" are clearly Ty Tabor songs, as is "I Just Want to Live".  "Broke" and "No Lie" come across as nothing more than songs that didn't make the cut on dUg Pinnicks's last solo record.  "Broke" also stands out for its lyrics, using a na-na-na chorus, and lazy rhymes such as broke/joke, baby/crazy, and affliction/addiction.  "Rocket Ship" may be another Pinnick demo, and its chorus drags.

In some ways, _XV_ just feels unfinished, which is regrettable, considering how long the release was delayed.  If _Ogre Tones_ was a step back to the band's stellar past, then _XV_ is at least a half step backward.  And this comes from someone often accused of being a King's X fanboy.

Brian A. Smith
26 April 2008