36 replies to this topic

[maztrax]

I've decided to delve deeper into the King's X/solo projects/side projects catalog and want to know where I should go next. I own: Out of the Silent Planet Gretchen Goes to Nebraska Faith Hope Love King's X Dogman Ear Candy Moonflower Lane The Best of King's X Live All Over the Place Ogre Tones XV thanks in advance, Maz

[ParticleHustler]

Without a doubt, for me, it's Please Come Home Mr. Bulbous. Definitely my favorite post-Atlantic KX album, and probably in my top 3 or 4 of their albums. For side projects, I'd suggest Jughead, which is Ty Tabor, Derek Sherinian, and Matt/Greg Bissonnette. Or maybe Jelly Jam, which is Ty, Rod Morgenstein, and John Myung. Doug did a project with a couple of guys from Trouble that sounds like...Trouble with Doug singing (which is a godd thing to me!).

[maztrax]

I also seem to recall that Pinnick was working on a project with a couple of guys from Pearl Jam. Was that ever released?

[Soundscape]

I would endorse Particle's suggestion of BULBOUS and for some reason I am in the minority, but my favorite post-Sam Taylor record in 2001's MANIC MOONLIGHT I grew to LOVE that record and it stands as one of my favorite albums this decade from anyone.

TAPEHEAD would also be worth checking out, although I rate below everything else besides OGRE TONES and BLACK LIKE SUNDAY, it still has a handful of good songs on it.

As for the solo/sideprojects:

Platypus - WHEN PUS COMES TO SHOVE..kind of jazz-rock with Ty doing some vocals. If you like this, than you probably should check out JellyJam.
Jughead
Dug Pinnick - EMOTIONAL ANIMAL and STRUM SUM UP are both decent. I rate them both about 3.5 out of 5 stars. Not quite of the level of the KX, but some of the songs actually might have been KX songs, so in a way some of them are.

I haven't heard Jerry's solo album, or the last couple of Ty solo albums. Supershine I have and was kind of underwhelmed by.

[maztrax]

Thanks PH and Soundscape. Complain and Velocity? C'mon now...

[velocity]

Without a doubt, for me, it's Please Come Home Mr. Bulbous. Definitely my favorite post-Atlantic KX album, and probably in my top 3 or 4 of their albums.

For side projects, I'd suggest Jughead, which is Ty Tabor, Derek Sherinian, and Matt/Greg Bissonnette. Or maybe Jelly Jam, which is Ty, Rod Morgenstein, and John Myung. Doug did a project with a couple of guys from Trouble that sounds like...Trouble with Doug singing (which is a godd thing to me!).

I'll second these picks, as well as what Soundscape had to say (except I'm not as partial to Emotional Animal). Strum Sum Up is Dug's best solo project by far, imo, and it struck me that for once he saved some of his best songs for himself, vs. KX.

If you like Jerry's voice ("Six Broken Soldiers," "Sorry Julie," "American Cheese") I also recommend his solo album. It's not perfect, but I love the sweet purity of his singing.

I also seem to recall that Pinnick was working on a project with a couple of guys from Pearl Jam. Was that ever released?

The Ament project was never completed--Dug hasn't said it won't happen, only that they've all been busy doing other things. I think it was mixed but not mastered. I still hold out hope...hopefully I'll get a chance to ask him about it later this month.

[Complain]

Ty Tabor related projects:

Solo:
Naomi's Solar Pumpkin - the indie precursor to Moonflower Lane. Most songs are the same.
Safety - one of the Ty divorce records. Edgier than most of his stuff, and angrier.
Rock Garden - pretty solid little disc
Tacklebox - 2 discs of KX demos, with a few outtakes and a commentary. Molken Music release

With others:
Platypus - When Pus Comes to Shove - Ty at his proggiest. Love it
Platypus - Ice Cycles - more of the same
Jelly Jam - s/t - Platypus minus Sherinian. Still great
Jelly Jam II - maybe the best of the "rock" side projects
Jughead - power pop with the Bissonnettes and Sherinian. Absolutley love this disc.

dUg Pinnick projects:
Servant - 1979 Christian rock album. Boots are out there. It's like a second rate Kansas.
Mann Friday - The Big Round Thing. He produced and sang, played bass on a few tracks - with former Yonderboy (and Chicago native) Randy Kerkman. Pretty good in a grunge sort of way
Poundhound - Massive Grooves... first real solo disc. Choppy, in that he's still learning guitar. Still, maybe his most "real" solo work.
Poundhound - Pineappleskunk - I loved this disc when it came out, still do.
Supershine - s/t - dUg, Bruce Franklin of Trouble, and Jerry Gaskill. Stoner rock. I love this, but I'm in the minority of KX fans.
Emotional Animal - Hit and miss for me. Tyring to branch out a little more. 7/10.
Strum Sum Up - his most fully realized solo disc. Lots of guests, including Wally Farkas and Hal Sparks. Lots of jam sessions
Songs from the Closet - his demo disc with commentary. A few outtakes, and the comments are great. dUg gives great interview, and always has.
The Mob - 80's metal with George Lynch - haven't heard it.
Montana - tentative group name of the Jeff Ament project. May never see the light of day, since they've been working on it since they toured together over ten years ago

He's also done one offs for tributes many times, including AC/DC, Beatles, Pink Floyd, Metallica, Van Halen, and Mr. Big. I have a two disc compilation I made of his side stuff, including a demo w/Dimebag, the above tunes, and a mishmash of demos, outtakes, and guest appearances.

Jerry Gaskill

Come Somewhere - his first solo disc after years of being asked the question. I love it - his guitar is much better than expected. Good songwriter, though elliptical.

Of the KX stuff, I say get it all. To me, Tape Head is the weakest, but most disagree.

Manic Moonlight is hit and miss, some real standouts with some real head scratchers. Please Come Home Mr Bulbous is the best of the post 2000 era. Black Like Sunday is the "that never happened" disc to most fans. It's mostly re-recorded songs from their early days when called Sneak Preview and The Edge - kind of Loverboy-ish at times 80's type stuff, although "Screamer" is a must have.

[w. josh]

You know, I absolutely loved the first three albums when I was a kid but completely lost the trail after "Black Flag". I just always assumed I'd be embarassed by the prog and christian rock elements if I ever went back and listened to these guys (plus I only had them on cassette anyway). But I'm d/ling and listening to Faith Hope Love right now, and no, "It's Love" still gives me the warm fuzzies. So I guess I'm replenishing those three albums and looking for Please Come Home Mr. Bulbous today.

[ParticleHustler]

You'll find all sorts of anti-religion stattements on the later stuff. And not much prog, either. Although Bulbous is more "artsy" than a lot of the other stuff they've done since the early days. I love the album, but it's out there. You listen to stuff like Looking For Love off of Ear Candy, and Doug sings, "Religion burned me at the stake" and "I guess I lost my faith." Not quite the same band that Rolling Stone said was "too nice" at times.

[Soundscape]

well fwiw, I posted this little analysis about MOONLIGHT and TONES a few months ago. I don't follow why I'm in so much of the minority of MM..but in some ways I suppose I feel unique
http://allmediarevie...t-vs-tones.html

[boobs]

[maztrax]

thanks all for the recommendations...I have a lot of listening to do!

[velocity]

well fwiw, I posted this little analysis about MOONLIGHT and TONES a few months ago. I don't follow why I'm in so much of the minority of MM..but in some ways I suppose I feel unique
http://allmediarevie...t-vs-tones.html

That's a nice read. I would say that w/ the exception of "Yeah" and "Static," MM is a solid album. I hope you get a chance to see them do "Vegetable" live, they groove out on that outtro for about 10 minutes and it's pretty great.

Embarrassed to say I don't have Ice Cycles, Rock Garden or Tackle Box yet. I had avoided listening to Naomi's Solar Pumpkin and Moonflower Lane until last year, but was pleasantly surprised so I need to get on board w/ those other 3 from Ty.

[ParticleHustler]

I loved Static live, it translates far better live than on the CD. But part of the problem with MM, IMO, is the half-assed loops and stuff, so that song doesn't sound as good on the CD.

[maztrax]

I loved Static live, it translates far better live than on the CD. But part of the problem with MM, IMO, is the half-assed loops and stuff, so that song doesn't sound as good on the CD.

still the best avatar ever PH

[ryan]

[Complain]

I loved Static live, it translates far better live than on the CD. But part of the problem with MM, IMO, is the half-assed loops and stuff, so that song doesn't sound as good on the CD.

Exactly how I felt about it.

[Soundscape]

I enjoy a lot of the MOONLIGHT songs live, but sadly, many of them I don't recall seeing them play in person. I have caught the band 10 times, but most of those were before I was that into MM.

[DrAftershave]

this got played a lot during my high school years.

[velocity]

I enjoy a lot of the MOONLIGHT songs live, but sadly, many of them I don't recall seeing them play in person. I have caught the band 10 times, but most of those were before I was that into MM.

Yeah, seems like they only played those songs during the MM tour itself. And pigs will fly before they'll willingly play anything from the self-titled album (other than "Lost in Germany"). Although I was lucky to see "The World Around Me" once.