The Kingsbury Manx

Kingsbury Manx | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 18, 2000)
• Original Release Date: January 18, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Overcoat Recordings
• ASIN: B00003XA7H
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #330,888 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet autumn leaves..., March 1, 2001

By 

"jlmonty" (Monroeville, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kingsbury Manx (Audio CD)

Within the intriguing packaging (dreamy 1970ish cover painting, lack of credits, lyrics, etc.), the Chapel Hill, NC quartet The Kingsbury Manx have created a humble gem. Refreshing in its lack of music-biz glossiness (see above), this album seems like it sprung out of the ground fully formed - it's an awkwardly beautiful, organic, growing thing. Shades of the Velvets, Brian Wilson, New Zealand pop (Chills, JPS Experience), Syd Barrett-era Floyd, even the Dead! (check out "How Cruel") abound, but merely influence-checking this record really trivializes the wondrous sounds of this astounding debut.

The album opens with the sleepy, loping "Pageant Square" , then eases into the chilled air of "Regular Hands" - both different sounding tracks, yet both imbued with the sun-dappled gentleness that transcends you into a hazy, leafy world. This feeling is carried even further with the misleadingly titled "Piss Diary", it's sumptuous, autumnal glow passing over you like a blanket from your childhood. The funky wah-wah of "Cross Your EyesÓ leads into the wall-of-sound dirgey jam of "Blue Eurasians", which is in my opinion the weakest cut on the CD (if there is a weak cut!). "Hawaii In Ten Seconds" is acappella, full of ernest, albeit nasal, warmth. "Fields" starts as a sort of psychedelic song-cycle which evolves into some gorgeous acoustic guitar finger-picking (which they should have expanded upon). "New Old Friend Blues" has a mellow, Yo La Tengo-ish vibe that is further enhanced by its tired, lazy vocals which suit the songs feeling entirely. "Whether Or Not It Matters" has the kind of harmonies that you just don't hear anymore - without falling into soppy, Eagle-ish smooth rock - no small feat. The echoey slide guitar that careens throughout the rambling, spacey "Fanfare" washes out into the albums beautiful closer "Silver Trees", a slow, meditative tune with a late-fall, Nick Drake kind of vibe (except that the band uses electric guitar and harmony vocals, yet the feel is still there).

Forgive the hyperbole, but the fact that all of these sounds and moods are in one album, and a debut album at that, is extraordinary. If only other artists would take this direction and get back to creating art instead of pedalling image, music would be in a much healthier state. As it is, just be glad that an obscure jewel like The Kingsbury Manx is able to rise to the surface amongst all of the garbage.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, March 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Kingsbury Manx (Audio CD)

I just saw and met these guys last night at a show in Denton, TX. I bought this CD from them. There are a lot of different styles here. Influences range from Elliot Smith and American Analog Set to Palace and Bedhead. They said they were very proud of the album when I asked for a copy, and one can hear why. My fave line: "It's hard not to crumble under the pressure of an angry woman."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful desolation, February 24, 2000

By 

mark briggs (Valparaiso, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kingsbury Manx (Audio CD)

I bought this record on a whim, one day before a blinding snowstorm in my Indiana hometown. This was perfect timing for repeated listening to an amazing debut. The brutally honest lyrics coupled with the desolate, almost rythmically ambient music create a beautiful bummer of a record. Take some cough medicine, get under the covers, close the curtains, set the cd player on repeat, and call off of work.