After a successful stint as frontman and songwriter in the 2000’s indie-rock band What Made Milwaukee Famous, Austin-based Michael Kingcaid was reborn as a solo artist kingcaid (intentionally all lower-case).
It’s been more than three years since his last album, but he’s back with Colorblind Quarterback, and these 11 tracks are certainly a welcome return as they showcase a hugely varied and much more ambitious sound.
“Ain’t That Nice” – Things kick off with a nice mixture of classic rock, prog rock, and art rock. There’s a simple, chunky riff peppered with plenty of angular curve balls. The guitars sound really crunchy and are played with a watchmaker precision; it’s such a bright and invigorating opener. Knowing that Michael is from Texas, I was intrigued to hear a clear English accent, with tight harmonies adding a Pink Floyd-esque character. That English persona goes on to deliver some scathing political satire:
“Icy England. Icy France.
Some full-on push. Some put-on dance.
Things are looking up. Ain’t that nice”
“Purgatory” – It’s a grand, sweeping sound with barely contained guitars, blues piano, and even the distant sound of thunder. There are epic strokes here, but they manage to draw an intricately detailed picture. Great storytelling once again with more funny one liners:
“Women and children first
The forecast is getting worse
Grab everything you think you can manage
There’s only every single reason to panic
The impact won’t be what hurts”
“Here We Go Again” – With every track comes new textures and moods. Here, we get upbeat and bouncy 60’s pop energy and a fluttering horn section. The band continues to sound really locked in, and the jaunty melody positively leaps out of the speakers.
“Drop That Man” – Synths are thrown into the mix, with staccato chords that sound like the whirling backdrop of a fairground ride. This is another virtuoso display of hook writing and another chameleon-like vocal performance. Strange as this may sound, I found myself likening this to a cross between Prince and David Bowie.
“etc. forever” – Five tracks in and we’ve had five different moods. I loved the distorted, hypnotic hook as “etc. forever” rolled along. Half bass hook, half guitar hook: It’s funky as hell, and like a black hole it grows heavier and heavier. The lyrics are very conversational here, and once again, they’re very funny:
“What were you saying again, I wasn’t listening
C-could you repeat it? I’m probably sure that it was riveting
I “need” a replay. Could you slow it down?
Hey, cheers. Salud. Bottoms up. Face down.”
“Will You Take A Second For A Minute” – A firecracker snare, a driving acoustic guitar, and a characterful vocal gave me real George Harrison vibes. One of the most inventive tracks so far: It feels straight forward at first, but never quite settles, and is constantly shape shifting. This one will need a few listens!
“Monster” – This trippy track slows things down and switches between calming warmth and unsettling turbulence. There are acres of space, a slightly menacing tone, and a pertinent story:
“Come in close if you’re not scared of ghosts
And I promise not to bite
Everyone knows that I just love to host
And I I’m not no parasite”
“Nothing” – This is a perfect example of the ambition of this album. A country-tinged rhythm guitar, an Oasis-tinged vocal, some crashing drums, and explosive guitars. It’s a wonderful cocktail of styles and sounds, and feels impossible to pigeonhole. With a cleverly cryptic lyrical journey through disillusionment and empowerment, this track has it all:
“Fed nothing. Said nothing. And I’m feeling fine.
Instead of just nothing, I built a shrine.
Pled nothing. But I know one thing. I’m getting mine.
Instead of seeing dumb things, I saw the sign.”
“I Think I’m Alone Now” – The closest thing to a straight-up rock song on the album, the vocal melody is beautifully simple and works so well with the guitars. The drum sound with its piercing snare and splashing cymbals also really sold the song to me.
“Chased By Shadows” – A great title and a track full of hugely atmospheric details. I loved the acoustic guitar melody, and the brooding, droning guitars. Channeling Radiohead’s epic sense of drama, this song unfolds with a cavernous, expansive sound. It’s like floating in space with no way back to the ship.
“Why” – The song feels looser than those before it, but with a film-score opening and a heartbreaking melody. The final, anguished vocal tells a tale of division handled with Michael’s usual inventive turns of phrase:
“Christ, can’t we ever get a break?
You’d think that any one of us has claimed a stake
We solve fewer problems than we make
We’re dishing out more spite than we could ever take”
kingcaid’s new album is a delicious smorgasbord of styles and genres, and it’s populated by a cast of distinct personalities. Each track is a mosaic: Disparate ideas pierced together to form totally unique and exciting journeys. Filled with idiosyncratic melodies and lyrics that tell stories in obscurely clever ways, it’s bursting with life and a wry sense of humour.
Colorblind Quarterback will make you dance, bring a tear to your eye, and put a smile on your face. Take a listen below.
Written by Grubby
