Why
King's X never became a hugely successful and well-known hard rock outfit will forever remain a mystery, especially after listening to the totally original and memorable compositions that comprise their 1997
Best of King's X compilation. An intoxicating blend of
Beatlesque vocal harmonies, introspective lyrics, and genre-skipping music gained the band a solid cult following since its first release in 1988, but the group never truly broke through to mainstream success. All of their best-known tracks are included here, such as the early-'90s MTV favorites "It's Love," "Black Flag," and "Dogman," as well as such key tracks as "Summerland," "Looking for Love," "Goldilox," and "King." Also included are three previously unreleased studio tracks -- "Sally," "April Showers," and "Lover" -- as well as a ten-minute live version of "Over My Head" recorded at Woodstock II in 1994. Although some of their better album cuts ("We Are Finding Who We Are," "Not Just for the Dead," "Fool You," etc.) could have replaced such selections as "Mr. Wilson" and "Lost in Germany,"
Best of King's X is still a superb compilation of one of the most underrated hard rock acts of all time. If you were to buy only one
King's X album, this would be the one -- but you'd still be missing out on some fantastic music by not checking out such full-lengths as
Gretchen Goes to Nebraska and
Faith Hope Love. Nonetheless,
Best of King's X is an essential purchase for fans of expertly crafted and challenging rock. ~ Greg Prato