Customer Reviews

When the Red King Comes

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

 

 

When I first heard this record I was immediately turned off by its lo-fi production and Velvet Undergroundesque chord progressions (lots of I-IV stuff). I don't mind lo-fi at all, but the world has seen enough velvets influence. ENOUGH. Please. NO MORE! However, many mysterious little elements kept cropping up: offbeat lyrics of castles and frightened singers, otherworldly pipes, eerie wooshing sounds, beguiling but subtle effects--not to mention a really cool album cover that took me back to the days when you could stare at a record's album art while auditioning the platter. Soon after, I was hooked, and didn't ever think of VU. These songs have a wistful, innocent charm and sense of mystery that blooms out from the simple band arrangements. The title track is a great anthem with an almost GBV meets tolkien feel. The Eno cover is absolutely wonderful. The melodies are simple but hooky, perfect for whirling my little daughter around. Like labelmates Olivia Tremor Control, this album is great escapist fun, but suffused with a poignant innocence that keeps it from being a mere pleasant distraction.

Elf Power is the elephant 6's answer to the Flaming Lips. Jeff from Neutral Milk and Will from Olivia help out Elf Power on this one as do other elephants. Jeff's girlfriend is in the band. A little more folky and sometimes heavier than the rest of their ilk, Elf Power have created a stunning debut that stays in your head and drives you crazy until you play it again. Highlights include "the Secret Ocean", "When The Red King Comes" and the cover of Eno's "Needle in the camel's eye". Buy it now.

I found this album tedious at first, but had a sort of breakthrough listening while standing over the stove. Buy it, listen to it, and if all else fails, inhale a lot of steam. You won't be disappointed.

I'd have to describe this album as lo-fi somewhat catchy guitar psychedelic pop. Does that make sense? There are some good songs and some boring uninspired ones on here. Elf Power uses a lot of sound effects and minimal production values, which I don't mind, but despite the sound effects, the songs are frequently not very interesting; they're very drony and rarely hooky (to me, at least). I don't find myself humming songs from this album very often. The best song is probably the Eno cover "Needles in the Camel's Eye". Other stand-outs: "The Secret Ocean," "When the Red King Comes" and "It's Been a Million Years". Some of the songs are just too darned minimalist and repitive to be interesting though. Overall, it's a pleasant enough album, but I think it lacks the creativity, wit and inspiration of other stuff.

This is the best psychadelic rock i've ever heard. You listen to the songs and seem to think that they're beautiful and make perfect sense and describe just what yoiu always wanted. Then you think about what the lyrics are actually saying and realize how insane you truly are. BEAUTIFUL!!!!

The CD came right on time for my friend's b-day. He liked it very much.
Thanks Amazon!

hailing from athens, georgia and members of the elephant six collective, elf power deliver a concept album that takes place in the red king's kingdom.

every song flows beautifully with along to create a very unique album. very folk rocky/psychedelic. if you like elf power check out neutral milk hotel.

It just makes me happy listening to it - That's all that counts!.....