If you haven’t heard of the K’s yet, you’ve been living under a rock.
They’re probably one of the fastest-growing bands of the last couple of years and have probably performed at a festival or gig you’ve attended, with adoring fans following suit, and it’s easy to see why.
Their second album “Pretty on the Internet” drops late July and the highly anticipated album has already been teased on the K’s UK tour as well as some other shows.
Kicking off the album is “Before I hit the floor” – which wastes no time with that all too familiar indie guitar riffs we all know and love from The K’s, the vocals shortly follow and it’s given a real spotlight with minimal instrumental for a moment, which is quite powerful, before amping it up, seamlessly working together.
The lyrics are powerful, talking about experiences most of us can relate to, regrets, memories, feeling like an outsider but also acknowledging who you are and your past – all whilst sounding like a complete anthem – a real belter to begin.
“Rat Poison” follows, and a funky bass tune opens before coming straight through kicking, if there’s one thing that The K’s are good at, it’s bringing the energy and it is consistent throughout the track, it’s incredibly infectious.
The lyrics refer to “fill my veins with rat poison” and possibly referring to mixing with the wrong crowd or regrets, it was actually a bit difficult to pick up, not because it isn’t a good track, just because the track itself is so high energy and easy to listen to, I was just enjoying the sound!
The ending does ease off and you can probably have a short break from your internal (or external!) mosh pit.
“Breakdown In My Bedroom” is next, the title alone suggests it is a little more mellow and it is compared to the first two tracks – it’s still full of octane indie energy, but the melody to it is going for that softer side to it, it does appear to have a deeper meaning and refer to mental health and struggling mentally, something that is an epidemic anywhere and everywhere – and I think would hit a few people in the feels.
Up next is “The Bends (Here We Go Again)” – which is again, amps up the energy but again, appears to talk about something a bit more personal, more life experience-based.
Frontman Jamie Boyle says:
“Throughout my adolescence, I spent a lot of time in hospital, most of it without any clear answers as to why my health was getting worse.
I went through countless tests, scans, and surgeries in an effort to uncover the root of the problem. The pain was often so intense that I had to be given powerful drugs like morphine, which left me feeling completely out of it — dizzy, detached, and often unable to even sit up.
The Bends is about that disorienting, overwhelming feeling, and how being around a certain person can evoke that same feeling.”
There is an element of frustration there, with a voicemail effect in the second-half of the song, explaining what was happening, an attempt to catch up and just how he was feeling, making the track incredibly powerful.
“Helen, Oh, I” is next and this certainly switches it up a bit, with a more classical feel with hints of violin and piano injected.
I feel like this song is like a lost love, the one that stuck out is “Paris stole your heart” and that “I hate to see you go” – this is a really raw and emotional to the side of The K’s and it has to be acknowledged at how versatile they are, it’s a different side that connects with anyone who has had heartbreak in their lives.
This is the longest song of the album and generally speaking, I don’t usually focus for that long, but this hit me and kept me hooked, it’s a gorgeous track.
“Picking Up The Pieces” is next and we’re now at the half-way point of the album, which has been nothing short of outstanding so far.
This is still a bit more mellow but is back to the indie-pop-anthem-esque we all know and love – this also seems to go down the route of love, friendships and relationships, literally talking about picking up the pieces, after a friend, crush or someone who continually chases after the wrong person (before any of my friends pipe up, be quiet!) – and we’ve all seen a friend go through this.
I still found myself bobbing my head along and feeling the instrumental – which is always a good sign! The K’s have continually kept me hooked throughout this.
After is “Me and Your Sister” – that fantasy that most young lads have about their mates sisters (whether you should or not) but this talks of secrecy, sneaking around and real feelings, a real fantasy and attraction, all whilst giving it that K’s upbeat twist we all know and love.
It’s a tongue-in-cheek track that you can’t help but smirk at, not sure how their mates would feel about that mind.
“33 Heads” is after and has a bit more euphoric beginning, and immediately, I picked up on a description of loneliness and wellbeing again – The K’s have a real knack for writing relatable, emotional and hard-hitting lyrics and this is no exception!
Talking about being in a room or a crowd and still feeling alone, it’s a real talent to sing about something so prominent whilst almost blending it in with a catchy tone, almost disguising it in a way and not being too obvious, that’s not necessarily a bad thing – but I feel like it is difficult to do.
“Sold It, Own It” is next, it has a bit of an electronic beginning almost, but does mould into the familiar K’s soft indie-rock their fans know and love, it’s high-energy again (I’m starting to wonder where they get it from?!) but does mellow down in intervals, and breaks up the last part of the album nicely.
The lyrics were quite hard to pick up on this occasion, because it is a fast-sung track – but I imagine after a few listens it would roll off the tongue easily! It’s instrumental on the other hand is very melodic, easy to listen to and generally anthemic – it is mixed up a bit towards the end and gives a powerful finish, but would we expect anything less?
“Running Away Now” follows and wastes no time getting started, again, very fast-paced, it does stroke the dopamine craving, and follows a similar mellow feeling generally, with injections of energy.
The guitar riffs in this track are sublime and generally carry this track, it balances out the fast and furious and keeps it above water, crafting it to track.
The lyrics again are very raw and maybe relatable to some, running away with your thoughts, getting recreationally carried away or purely wanting an escape – it’s again well disguised with instrumental – but the ending is harrowing to the fact the vocals and front and centre, with no backing, that was brilliant and powerful.
“Gravestone” is the penultimate track of the album, and it’s a bit steadier with a faster backing track, so it feels like the roles have reversed, I’d like to hear more of this!
It does pick up the pace quickly, but easing in has made all the difference for me, we’re seeing a different side to the K’s that we haven’t seen much of in the album so far (in my opinion) and this track brings together everything they excel in, energy, well-crafted lyrics and instrumentally genius, but just balanced out and showing off their true range in this track – more of this please!!
The final track of the album is “Perfect Haunting” and this starts with a more classical backing, which is bloody stunning! I was amazed at this and sat and took it all in, as it was a twist I wasn’t really expecting but a very welcome one.
This slow serenity REALLY suits them, Jamie’s vocals echo throughout and whilst I appreciate it’s a change from the usual high-octane the K’s are about, this really shows how versatile they are, the piano and violin in the background is graceful, stunning and collaborates with the slower, softer lyrics really well.
This is a gorgeous way to finish off the album, and I’d like to see more of this style from the K’s, as I think the style of lyrics is very similar to the rest, but slowing it down has really done it wonders!
Overall, it’s a very well-produced and crafted album, it really shows the versatility of the band and what they can do, however, it is a lot, and I feel like their slower, softer tracks really are the highlights, it’s something different, that’s not to say the rest aren’t good, they are, they fit in with the K’s familiar narrative, but it brings in a mixed album with lots of ups and downs, and the emotion in the lyrics across the board is something to admire, with raw honesty and passion, it’s admirable.
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