just what, exactly, does one (or specifically moi, look you see) do when they have a new tape (disc) which they really crave to love but just do not? no, to clarify, don't "hate", for there are places between extremes we as a world have forgotten, but all the same don't feel what you hoped. i suppose the answer as to what to do is to ramble on about the regrettable disappointment.
here, then, is where i find myself with The Afterglow, being the second album off of KillerStar. quite an interestingly constructed band, but to save repetition (and to steal away things i could write here) more on that via these links to my posts on their debut album, live at 100 Club, and a 10" ep. whilst being aware of a second album was in the offing, for they previewed a couple of the songs (at least i think it was two) at the gig i went to, there was no huge weight or even wave of expectation surrounding it.
initially my plan was to get this tape (disc) at another gig at the 100 Club by them, where they were going to be selling it a few weeks prior to the official release date. whereas i had a ticket i, alas, had to cancel going via a combination of my (reasonably well documented here) health plight, the astronomical cost of the trains to that there London (innit) and (of course) the extreme likelihood that the train i would have paid a fortune to be on getting cancelled. no matter, then, i just ordered it from or if you will via their internet stuff. delighted when it landed with a smart sticker (image below), but did note that they had managed to spell my name incorrectly. turns out this is not the only thing they got wrong, but more on that later. rather than earlier.
didn't go into this one "blind" (or deaf, i suppose) as i did with the first. for the first, well, if you follow the links, yes, there was enough good faith in the musicians involved to give it a try, which i shall forever be glad i did. knowing more or less what to expect from a second venture by the band didn't stand me in all that good stead when it turned out to be kind of more of the same, yet feeling somewhat flat (or in a way deflated) compared to the first.
lyrically is where, disappointingly, The Afterglow is weakest. nearly all of it is contrived, fairly obvious rhyming couplets. worryingly what came to mind when listening was Blur's debut album, which always seemed to be an attempt to make the definitive collection of rhyming words ending "ay". unfortunately not a single song on here feels like it was written from some burning desire to express something. there is rather more of a sense that it was "this will work" or, worryingly, "this will do". possible, of course, that they just used lyrics as dressing for showcasing the vast musical talents on offer, yet this is a big step backwards from the debut.
quite interesting to see a comment on the inner cover, that i have tried to get a picture of for you, declaring that no AI was used in making the album. at first this reminded me of Queen, who(m) famously had "no synthesisers were used in making this record" on all of their albums right up to the point where they did use them; i think Flash Gordon or the less ("fewer") celebrated Hot Space. it turns out, however, that they might have wished to use some AI at one point, since the songs appear on the disc in a totally different order from how they are listed on the cover and disc face.
whilst not normally (or usually) engaging in "social media" things beyond good wishes to people at times that it is appropriate i did indeed ask the band about this on their facebook thing. mostly i was curious if i had a "one off" bad pressing or if it was a wider problem. no, as in yes, they were "aware" of the issue, and mentioned that replacement copies would be made available for free when they have fixed it, by which i take it as made more. baffling, taking as a given that someone must have noticed, even off just a test pressing, that this was allowed to come out like this, as surely it would have made more sense to delay the release and get fixed up. should it have been that the order of songs didn't really feel important then rather go full tilt Prince Black Album an don't list it. otherwise, releasing it like this kind of suggests the band "simply didn't care" about the issue, and if they don't care then why would they expect an audience to?
musically is where the great strength, and indeed draw, of KillerStar is. whereas all of the musicians assembled are clearly a perfect mix of gifted and talented, it's the presence of Earl Slick and Mike Garson that alerted a few of us to the band. here, and once again i freely admit a lack of musical knowledge, is where it is all a bit of a let down. sure, if i made an album with them two on it i would absolutely highlight them, but it all feels so forced on this album. far too often you get either Mr Slick or Mr Garson "mixed up" way too loud and overt on songs, rather than allowing a natural point in songs for them to shine. it really comes across as eccentric showboating.
how frequently am i going to play The Afterglow by KillerStar? well, at least once more if the replacement copy with the songs in the order intended comes along. otherwise, to reference two (2) of the other records mentioned, probably as much as all the songs after the first 5 (five) on All That You Can't Leave Behind, or slightly less ("fewer") frequently than Second Coming. right now my feelings about the band are not that far off of Inhaler - i appreciate the music, kind of like it, but really don't seem to get or grasp what the "point" is.
so, two new released albums bought and played this year (2026) and it turns out the Morrissey one is the best thus far. not entirely sure what, if anything, is going to come along as the weeks and months go by. let me express the hope (or wish) that, if in some future rather than previous year KillerStar release a third album that it is one they do mean, and it all comes out as intended.
be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment