Customer Reviews

The Kingsbury Manx

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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."

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.

Absolutely beautiful CD. I saw The Kingsbury Manx when they opened for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at Irving Plaza in NYC on March 31st, 2001. I had never heard of them before and the place was only half full when they came on. After the first song, however, I stepped out into the hall to buy their CD. It would be hard for me to classify their music, but in the interests of anyone reading this review, I'll try. It is deep, slow, sometimes heavy music. They make great use of the organ and a stand-up base. It is dreamy, sleepy, and harmonious. The only sound I could remotely compare it to would be The Red House Painters (very similar in some ways, but Kingsbury Manx is, I dare say, even more complex) or The Tindersticks. I think if you like either of those two bands, you owe it to yourself to get this CD. It is now like a rare jewel in my music collection, and I am highly anticipating their next release.

This is my favorite album -- it has been since the day I received it. It's become familiar and personal. I never get tired of listening to the Manx, and I RECOMMEND them to everyone who wants to hear dreamy harmony, thoughtful lyrics and a really pleasing sound. The combined genius of these four guys is amazing. The CD cover above is your first clue to the creative talent of the band...one of the members painted it. Definitely buy this music...listen to it often...sometimes it feels like they're singing right to you

Leafing through the alternative American section of my local second hand record store in Manchester, England, I chanced upon this album by a band I had never even heard the name of before. The sticker compared them to the Radar Brothers, who I love, so that was enough to make me take a flyer on it. My hunch was right. They do sound like a bit like the RB's, but so much more - maybe that previously unexplored hinterland between them, the Beta Band and the Ladybug Transistor. Whatever, it's gorgeous. Hypnotic, pastoral and melodic - nobody that I've played this to hasn't adored it. This band are clearly special.

Seriously one of the best pop albums to come out of the Chapel Hill area in a long while! If BedHead and Will Oldham were to procreate the offspring may have teamed up with Low to write this record! well crafted complex songs that are so intriguing its hard to believe this is a first attempt! R E C O M M E N D E D! check out "regular hands"

A lot people like this band, but five stars??

These guys do weave a hypnotic spell. Their dynamic wants to take the listener to a point where you fully expect the music to really take off and rock out. But it never quite does..leaving you wanting more. Like almost achieving orgasm. They do this quite well on songs like Cross Your Eyes, Blue Eurasians and Fanfare; and the effect approaches excitement.

They have a good sound and play well. The main problem is that most of the songs just aren't that strong or involving.

Not bad, especially for a debut, but not good enough to make me want to rush out and buy their new release...I'll wait til it shows up in the 'used' bin.

If you can imagine a blend of Elliott Smith, Belle & Sebastian, some of Beta Band's
folkiest stuff, and add a drop of a more laid back version of Pavement, you should
be pretty close to the sound and the flavor of The Kingsbury Manx!
(That's a description based on their three best albums; this one, "Let You Down"
and "Aztec Discipline".For me, their latest album, "Ascenseur Ouvert!", goes a bit
in the wrong direction. By now means a bad album, but it still feels less engaging
and a bit too calculated.)

Influences are often cited as Byrds, Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel and early Pink
Floyd. Usually that would get me running for cover(fast enough to put my shoes on
fire!), as I'm not one for too much harmonizing, but this I can definitely handle.
Regular Hands, Piss Diary, Cross Your Eyes and New Old Friend Blues are all great
songs, with sparse and truly beautiful arrangements.

I remember reading about this album ten years ago, when it made the best albums of
the year list in NME, but I couldn't get hold of it then. After listening to it
a lot over the past six months, it's easy to understand why it was so well received.
The first half of the album is fantastic, but with the exception of New Old Friend
Blues, the rest of it doesn't quite reach the standard of the first four tracks.

Some albums just get overlooked and more or less lost, critically acclaimed and all,
but still makes no significant impact. This is one of those.
"Let You Down" and "Aztec Discipline" is almost as good, and contains some great
songs: Baby, you're a dead man, Pelz Komet, Hunting Trips and Dinner Bell.)

With most ambitious albums, the songs take you places you never thought you would go but always manage to tie everything together towards the closing of the album. This album just keeps going. I'm not saying that it's a lengthy album, I'm just saying that it never brings everything full circle, it never comes together. The songs are seperate from on another while the music is not.

It sounds like at first they recorded these songs on speed, then listened to them later while taking anti depressants and decided to re-record them at a slower tempo.

It has a couple of good songs but no lasting memories.