The Lonely Kings
What If? (Fearless)
by Marc Hirsh
The Lonely Kings
What If? (Fearless)
by Marc Hirsh
originally published in Space City Rock, Spring 2001
With cleaner production, the Lonely Kings could be just another Blink-182, without the snot, or the Offspring, without the smugness. But then again, no, they couldn't, because the failings of the production are so much of a piece with the failings of the band. What If? is too organic, there's too much bleedthrough from each instrument, for anything here to reach the crystallized highs of "All The Small Things" or "The Kids Aren't All Right" (let alone the lows of "What's My Age Again?" or "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)"). That's the case with the performances, earnest but aimless rumblebuzzing, and the songs, leaden verses about something or other which connect to choruses that don't float. And in the end, for better or worse, snot and smugness is what those other bands bring to the table. The Lonely Kings would do better to show up with something, anything, of their own rather than sit there, waiting to be served.