Atomic Numbers

Mineral Kings | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 1, 2000)
• Original Release Date: April 1, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hillside Records
• ASIN: B000071W2U
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,734,853 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. For Granted

2. Love is Always Growing

3. October

4. Find a Better Way

5. Fallin' Down

6. Realize

7. She Don't Ever

8. Cabo

9. Where Are You Now?

10. One and One

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

The Mineral Kings sound like no band you have heard before and every band you have heard before. By drawing upon a wide range of influences, and by not trying to focus on a specific genre of rock music, their fans have compared them to such diverse acts as U2, The Cult, The Clash, INXS, Queen and Midnight Oil. Although they can tentatively be labeled as an "alternative" rock band, they have deep roots in the old school guitar-driven bands, which makes them cutting edge performers in a cookie-cutter music industry.

The Kings strike gold with their latest release and their strongest work to date, Metropolis. Back with their original lineup of Tony Morosini on guitars and drums, Art Forte on guitars, bass, and keys, and Carv Tefft on vocals, they return to powerful form with a bass thumping, guitar crunching, larynx punching effort. It’s an angry CD, and that’s a good thing in the rock and roll business! This follow-up CD to Atomic Numbers, their superb debut, allows the Kings to really flex their muscles, and it’s obvious from the opening track that they’ve been supplementing with creatine.

But to step back a bit, just as their music wanders through a broad spectrum of styles, integrating and elevating them to a higher level, the two founders of the band have also been East Coast – West Coast nomads. Carv and Art met through an ad in The Village Voice in Manhattan, and almost immediately became song-writing soul mates. They recorded under the name Release, but after the band’s untimely demise, Art packed up for San Francisco, where Carv was soon to follow. Tony, who had just wrapped up his own CD in Seattle, also migrated down to the now red-hot Bay Area music scene, where bands like Third Eye Blind, Green Day, and Smashmouth were reviving a music scene that hadn’t seen such new talent since the days of flower power. An ad in BAM magazine brought Tony into the fold, and after a brief tour in Europe, Tony returned to San Francisco, and The Kings, in 2001.

Atomic Numbers and Metropolis are The Mineral Kings’ first two CD releases, and both are available on Amazon.com. The band’s first two recordings, Tales of the Wailing Yakbone and Diamondhead, are currently only available in tape format and are not for purchase, though this may change in the near future. The band plans to tour nationally in support of their latest release.

With each successive recording, The Kings get closer to mastering the original formula they started out with – straight-ahead, melodically catchy rock tunes that are all meat and no fat. They have matured into vital artists that are brightening the somewhat dreary, unadventurous landscape of rock that has arisen from the mergers and homogenization of radio. In summary, the formula for the music fan is actually quite simple; if you like rock and roll, you are guaranteed to like The Mineral Kings.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars MK rocks!, November 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Atomic Numbers (Audio CD)

As a long time fan of the San Francisco music scene, I was thrilled to see MK release a full length CD. MK's offering is a blend of the Gin Blossoms and classic rock from the mid to late 70s. If you are looking for a retro groove that's been updated and sounds fresh, this band is for you. Can't wait for their next release!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MK rocks!, November 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Atomic Numbers (Audio CD)

As a long time fan of the San Francisco music scene, I was thrilled to see MK release a full length CD. MK's offering is a blend of the Gin Blossoms and classic rock from the mid to late 70s. If you are looking for a retro groove that's been updated and sounds fresh, this band is for you. Can't wait for their next release!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Kings Rule!, October 21, 2002

By 

Luca Brazzi (California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Atomic Numbers (Audio CD)

This cd reminds me of a time when music as much about songs as it is now about a sound or look. For Granted and Love is Always Growing (#1 and #2) are the best songs, but #5 Falling Down is a keeper too. The only weak spot is the last song IMHO. They sound a little like U2, with some Cult and INXS mixed in. It's a grab bag of early 80's influence presented in a 2K kind of way. I will definitely purchase their new cd when it comes out.