Review by Dom Vigil
Meet King Leg, the aptly titled debut album from Rock ‘n’ Roll force of nature King Leg is the perfect introduction to this young yet incredibly seasoned sounding musician. With a sound that takes British and American rock, country and even a dash of R&B and mixes them all together, King Leg has crafted an incredibly unique debut release that will stand the test of time. It sounds like it could have been released decades ago, but instead, Meet King Leg arrives in 2017, when we need a reminder of what good old fashioned Rock ‘n’ Roll was all about.
The twelve songs on Meet King Leg might seem a bit daunting at first, especially if this is your first time listening to King Leg, but it’ll only take a couple of tracks before you feel completely immersed in this record, and from there, it’s an incredibly easy listen. The first track, “Great Outdoors” is an ode to American culture and the beauty of the country. It’s a great introduction to King Leg’s timeless sound, unique vocals and driving guitar and bass work. Second song, “Cloud City” then quickly establishes a more mellow sound, driven by some of the best instrumentation on the album. “Cloud City” showcases all of King Leg’s strengths with ease, from the gorgeous yet incredibly controlled vibratos to the spectacular bass that carries the song forward and swelling instrumentals that mellow out in the blink of an eye.
Strong leading bass lines are a huge driving force behind Meet King Leg, regardless of the sound of the song. “Walking Again” feels like an old school country song, but it’s still driven by the same strong bass work as the almost psychedelic “Cloud City.” The heartbreaking and melodramatic “Walking Again,” also goes to show King Leg’s vocal versatility, even if the trembling vocals can feel like a bit much at times.
From “Walking Again,” a common theme of heartbreak, longing and moving forward begins to emerge from the album, especially within the vibrant, “Another Man.” A few songs later, “Comfy Chair” and “(A Dream That Never Ends)” continue to move things along, stepping into the stage of loneliness and longing in lines like, “I’m sick of missing you.”
Easily the strongest element on Meet King Leg is the lyrical content. Within these songs, he manages to weave a vivid story, one that many listeners will be able to relate to, but is still very personal to King Leg. Lyrically, these songs are catchy and smart, coupled with simplistic melodies that’ll easily worm their way into your head. Although things can get a little bit slow and repetitive toward the middle of the album – the simplistic, chugging acoustic guitar sounds very similar from song to song – there are still some standout tracks to keep things interesting. “Mona Lisa Screaming,” for instance, features some of the most unique vocal work on the album.
By the time that the album comes to an end, you’re sure to feel fully immersed in King Leg’s world. I won’t say that the album will take you back in time, because there are certainly some more modern elements to it that make for a very timely release, but it’s safe to say that the sounds on the album will definitely hold up for years to come. King Leg has found a sound that is truly unique and incredibly dynamic on this release, making him capable of practically anything.
LISTEN TO: “Comfy Chair” or “(A Dream That Never Ends)”
STAY CONNECTED WITH KING LEG: https://www.facebook.com/kinglegmusic/