What's up with King's X?

[doorknocker]

Heard one song this evening on the radio here in Switzerland. It sounded fantastic!

[GPl]

Must add to my collection! Excellent job King's X and Michael

[Geert van den Berg]

Originally Posted by mwagener

I just checked the master and it's clean, got me scared there for a moment

It's out today!!!

Sorry to scare you man, I don't think any of us thought the clicks and pops were on the actual master because they could not be missed.

The iTunes Store version of XV I just bought is now click and pop free, I am enjoying it right now!

[mwagener]

Cool. You never know with digital...

[SGWINK]

Another superb job. I must say this one had to grow on me. And grow it has - the tunes have me humming hooks and waking up with portions on a song repeating as endless riffs. To the boys in the band I already have tickets for the Pontiac show cant frickin wait.

MW - personally over the past 5 years of scanning the internet, this thread has been the best offering the internet has provided to me bar none. I love the band and have always dreamt of what it looks like in the studio. Your gratiousness of time and expertise is just not found these days. Thank you sincerly for all of this.

The Album, oh yeah.... Grew on me. I scammed the CDNOW to get the ear shot of the songs and I was scared. I thought oh no... no melodies, no huge hooks, not the same Kings X penetrating the ear drums. Not stopping me from buying the album I got it the day it was out and now I love it. Fresh and with all the notes and harmonies I wanted in an arrangement that is typical and fresh for them. Great ideas for songs and from the heart writing - LOVE Jerry's Julia and might be one of the strongest tunes! Like 6 Broken Soldiers, A GEM!

Thanks again to Kings X for making my ears dance again with music that is missing in all music today...


Question - Ty's Naomi Solor Pumpkin has a tune called Had to Move. Songs like these on SOLO albums, even PoundHound, can they be used on KINGS X albums in the future? Not to rehash songs and all that is about being new and fresh - there is enough music on Ty's Solo stuff that could make 3 more albums and with Jerry and Dugs touch can make them into serious albums. Naomi turned to TY's release MoonFlowerLane and had almost all the songs. Since Had to Move never made it on that and another strong tune did, was hopng to see one day these done with Michaels touch at Alien Beans...

[SGWINK]

Just to add that all the guys in the band had strong solo stuff it could fill 9 albums of stuff - Kings X is a band of 3 talented musicians and thier albums leave you feeling full and combines it all into one form. So lucky we get to hear them!


Just wondering if ever any inside talk MW could share with us about the bands intentions and what never made it.. B side stuff!

[ArkAmps]

I agree about this being a super cool thread, amazing band and producer and we get to "sit in" the studio and watch it all happen! Very cool

We have a few amps I would like to have Michael give a listen to sometime and see what he thinks, I like his ears!

www.arkamps.com

bc

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by ArkAmps

I agree about this being a super cool thread, amazing band and producer and we get to "sit in" the studio and watch it all happen! Very cool

We have a few amps I would like to have Michael give a listen to sometime and see what he thinks, I like his ears!

www.arkamps.com

bc

...always love to check out amps

[mwagener]

SGWINK

I don't have any idea how the guys handle the copyrights between them, but I don't see why they couldn't re-do an old song, although we got some negative remarks about re-doing "Goldylocks" on OGRETONES. No matter how good the "new" version is, there will always be people that are so used to the original and don't like the new version.The guys in the band felt that the original never got the treatment it deserved, because of circumstances at the time and liked the new version very much, go figure..

[ArkAmps]

Originally Posted by mwagener

SGWINK

I don't have any idea how the guys handle the copyrights between them, but I don't see why they couldn't re-do an old song, although we got some negative remarks about re-doing "Goldylocks" on OGRETONES. No matter how good the "new" version is, there will always be people that are so used to the original and don't like the new version.The guys in the band felt that the original never got the treatment it deserved, because of circumstances at the time and liked the new version very much, go figure..

Ironic in a way but very true, it seems that covers of tunes by other artists usually go over better than a redo by the same band...

I see may friend Tony Niekrewicz of Industrial amps has an amp at your studio, I never had time to play one at the last 2 NY Amp Shows but I over heard someone else playing and what I heard sounded excellent! Tony is a real great guy with a heart of solid gold;) Maybe when we are in Nashville next we can drop off an amp for you to try, World Music Nashville has our 60 watt Model A and we are planning on dropping off one of our new 20 watters real soon. All our amps at that store are loaners by the way for studios and session players to "check out" for brief time periods to get a feel for what we are like.

I think what you are doing is just great here at this site, you seem to inspire people to achieve excellence and that is commendable

Keep up the good work!

Bill Compeau

[Chris]

Originally Posted by mwagener

For the MTS series the RT2/50 is the way to go IMO. The use of two different kind of powetubes (brilliant idea) gives you a bunch of different tones, especially if you use different speakers with the amp. Also, compare to the poweramp in the 100W head, the RT 2/50 has lots more balls.

Just picked up an RT 2/50 for $650! Pretty damn cheap, I got lucky. Next step is the RM4 and some modules. And then a speaker cab. Haha. No more having to mike up Crates and Line 6's.

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by Chris

Just picked up an RT 2/50 for $650! Pretty damn cheap, I got lucky. Next step is the RM4 and some modules. And then a speaker cab. Haha. No more having to mike up Crates and Line 6's.

You might want to think about getting an empty Marshall or similar cab and put two Celestion G12H Anniversary (30W) on one side and the Vintage 30s (60W) on the other side, run them stereo with the RT2/50 (EL34s on the G12H), kicks ass. It also sounds better to my ear to mount the speakers from the front, just make sure you put some isolation around them, so they don't pull air from the back.

[smoore98]

Originally Posted by Chris

Just picked up an RT 2/50 for $650! Pretty damn cheap, I got lucky. Next step is the RM4 and some modules. And then a speaker cab. Haha. No more having to mike up Crates and Line 6's.

Chris, I have the cab you want. I have a custom Avatar with the configuration Michael is talking about and I want to sell it (I am moving). I sent you a PM about it.

[ForgottenG]

I also have been listening to KingsX since 1990 and have loved them. I had a chance to go and see them in Nashville in about 98 I think it was. I was afraid to go because I thought if I went and they tanked the show it would ruin it for me. My buddy convinced me so we went. WoW they absolutely tore it up. It was a great show and I was so glad I went. Don't pass up a chance to see them live.

[ArkAmps]

Originally Posted by ForgottenG

I also have been listening to KingsX since 1990 and have loved them. I had a chance to go and see them in Nashville in about 98 I think it was. I was afraid to go because I thought if I went and they tanked the show it would ruin it for me. My buddy convinced me so we went. WoW they absolutely tore it up. It was a great show and I was so glad I went. Don't pass up a chance to see them live.

They are one of the best live bands around period.

[Hansenhaus]

Hi.

I'm new to this forum and found this thread a few days ago and it's awesome. I've been a fan of King's X for quite some time. After reading this whole thread I purchased XV on iTunes. Everything is cool but the track entitled "I Just Want To Live" has a constant clicking and popping throughout the entire track. I read earlier in this thread someone else had the same problem but on the whole album. They mentioned iTunes fixed it but I think it's safe to say there still is a problem.

How do I contact iTunes to get this resolved?

thanks,

Eric

[mwagener]

needless to say the label forgot to put my production credit on the back on the CD sleeve AGAIN

[pan60]

Originally Posted by mwagener

needless to say the label forgot to put my production credit on the back on the CD sleeve AGAIN

would be pissed!!!!

[SGWINK]

Forgetting those credits is down and out cruel. The more I listen to it the more this is truly becoming one of those recordings throughout the entire disc with amazing tones.

Michael the transition mixing of the songs together and the way they blend in together from end of one to beginning of the other is awesome. Each track has an individual signature of feel for the mixing. Just loving it and the more I listen the more I hear nuances. Like the tune I just Want to Live... There is a vocal drop of a "yeah" thats in there and Its right before the vocal of the "old radio" mic tone. That tune is incredible.

By the way - did you ever divulge the tune's name where Ty's strings were never changed in eons? Didnt you eventually record the song in its entirety that way?


Too much great stuff here...

Still trying to hear where your vocals can be heard in the last song.

ooh and by the way

GO WINGS!!!

[mwagener]

That was Ty's Elite Strat, which was used on a lot of the songs. The other guitars had strings with at least 3 year old strings.

I got the last word on No Lie: "somebody hit stop..."

[kingsxman]

I followed a thread I started at The Gear Page to this site via a link someone provided. As a few others have pointed out….this IS an incredible thread. I just joined the site mainly so I could post and say how great I think this new CD is and what an incredible job I think Michael did on the production. This truly is the best cd they have come out with since Tape Head in my opinon. I did not like Bulbous or Manic Moonlight at all. I liked a few things on Black Like Sunday and I dug a few things on Ogre Tones. However, this disc, to me, is as strong as anything they’ve come out with. It actually reminds me a lot of Ear Candy (my 2nd fave CD of thiers).

Even being a big fan I ALWAYS dislike a new KingsX cd at first. As usual, by the third go round it was starting to grab me. Now I love it. I especially like Pray, Julie, Alright and Broke. I think “Go tell Somebody” sounds like it could have come off Faith Hope and Love. What I really like about this CD is the quality of the recording and the EQ of it. Especially the drums. I have a nice stereo in my car (JL Audio power and subs) and far too often I find CD’s (particularly KingsX) that are SOOO overboard on the bass side that It just gets muddy. The drums on this CD remind me of the Sam Taylor era drums where the bass has a nice tight thump with that upper end “snap” to it. Thumps your chest rather than rattles your balls. I love it!! Dougs bass is also crystal clean. Ty’s guitar sounds as good as anything he’s done. Vocals are great. Love Jerrys singing.

Anyway, I was hoping Michael saw this as I just wanted to say THANK YOU for helping to create something that brings back my faith in my favorite band. I’ve read a lot about how their at the end of their rope. (In particular an interview Doug did a year or 2 back). This gives me hope for more good stuff from them. Thank you!!!

[kingsxman]

Originally Posted by mwagener

SGWINK

I don't have any idea how the guys handle the copyrights between them, but I don't see why they couldn't re-do an old song, although we got some negative remarks about re-doing "Goldylocks" on OGRETONES. No matter how good the "new" version is, there will always be people that are so used to the original and don't like the new version.The guys in the band felt that the original never got the treatment it deserved, because of circumstances at the time and liked the new version very much, go figure..

I've always thought that KingsX (or the lable) blew it when they never released "Mississippi Moon" as a single. I've played that song for more people who have no idea who KingsX is and to a person they all loved it. Even people who would never listen to anything hard rock. That song could have been a career changer IMHO.

Might be something to think about for thier next CD. Re-record it and see if it could get some play. I dont know if thats even possible in this day and age anymore of radio. Probably not. But might be something to try.

[dkatz42]

Originally Posted by Hansenhaus

Hi.

I'm new to this forum and found this thread a few days ago and it's awesome. I've been a fan of King's X for quite some time. After reading this whole thread I purchased XV on iTunes. Everything is cool but the track entitled "I Just Want To Live" has a constant clicking and popping throughout the entire track. I read earlier in this thread someone else had the same problem but on the whole album. They mentioned iTunes fixed it but I think it's safe to say there still is a problem.

I reported it through the "report problems" link in the iTunes store. They actually refunded my money for the entire album--hopefully the band (and Michael) still get paid...

Kind of hard to fathom how this got screwed up so badly...

[kingsxman]

Originally Posted by mwagener

That was Ty's Elite Strat, which was used on a lot of the songs. The other guitars had strings with at least 3 year old strings.

I got the last word on No Lie: "somebody hit stop..."

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has problems keeping up on my strings. Although....I usually only let them go 4 months tops. I actually kind of like that mellowness that old strings get. Plus...my hands dont sweat...so that probably has alot to do with it.

[Hansenhaus]

Originally Posted by dkatz42

I reported it through the "report problems" link in the iTunes store. They actually refunded my money for the entire album--hopefully the band (and Michael) still get paid...

Kind of hard to fathom how this got screwed up so badly...

Thanks for the tip. I reported the problem. Hopefully I will get a refund as well or a new version of the tune. It's as if they created the MP3s from a CD that had scratches on it. Weird.

Eric

[mwagener]

Thanx for the kind words guys (and gals ? )

[Hansenhaus]

Well I reported my problem with "XV" to iTunes and I got a prompt response. But for some reason they thought I was missing files so they allowed me to download the album again. However, the track entitled "I Just Want To Live" still has pops and clicks in it. I wrote back and explained as best I could that one track is still having audio problems.

You can hear the popping and clicking immediately when playing back the sample clip of "I Just Want To Live" from the iTunes store.

No one else hears this?

Eric