Duel!: Kingmaker Vs The Divine Comedy

Kingmaker reassessed.

https://thequietus.com/articles/28686-kingmaker-everything-changed-1991-1995-review

I hadn't realised the recent Kingmaker reunions hadn't involved Loz. not that I was planning to go anyway.

also interesting about the record company problems with the 2nd album. I wasn't really a fan, probably liked a handful of songs across the first 2 albums. an ilxor recently told me the last album is actually the best one but I've never heard any of it

I hadn't realised the recent Kingmaker reunions hadn't involved Loz. not that I was planning to go anyway.

...huh. I'm trying to imagine this.

I was a massive Kingmaker fan aged 12 (might be me you're talking about there CP?) was ashamed of it for a bit, but have long gotten over it, yes, the first half of their final LP is just brilliant, a shame it was released when everyone either hated them, didn't care or both.

ha yeah it was you

Listening to it again now, it's like, yes, his voice is still a bit annoying and his lyrics are still a bit pretentious and overwrought, but there's so much passion and pain there, and he's finally finding his voice, just as everyone has stopped listening - the songs are all pretty sad and desperate, and the fact nobody is listening any more just amplifies this. I know lots of people are not going to be into it, but genuinely, first 18 minutes of this (and last 5) are still brilliant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12r_vs4HfPw

also, this interview is fantastic, and explains why he suddenly quit it all forever.

http://www.kingmakerband.com/interview-with-loz-hardy/

Really Scrape the Sky caught my ear on the radio but I didn't buy the album, the second album's singles didn't provide any greater incentive. For some reason though I bought the third album. I'm not as enthusiastic as Camaraderie but I love the guitar tone and the heavy wah-wah use and it's certainly as good as any other album by a second tier britpop band. I probably never need to listen to the album again but In the Best Possible Taste Pt 1 does the pop + string quartet trick pretty well and I would keep Frustrated Gangster over 99% of the output of that benighted era.

Only song I particularly remember from being all over the Radio 1 breakfast show is Saturday's Not What It Used To be, which seems to have stiffed at a lowly 63.