1998 does not even seem all that long ago, even if it was over nine years ago, but that is when I received a free promotional tape, yes cassette of the Milwaukee band known as Citizen King. After taking a minute to scour the Internet to see what people were saying about this foursome quickly yielded some comparisons to artists like Fishbone, Arrested Development, 2 Skinnie J’s (Wisconsin’s 311) and one that scares me some, Smashmouth. In the end though, I’m a sucker for a good pop song and when it’s quirky, it is even cherished that much more. Their 1999 record, Mobile Estates did produce a lead single that ended up becoming rather popular and even graced music channels back when those channels played songs, that being “Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)”. Realistically though, tracks 1-12 are lead singles. It’s unfortunate that this album didn’t produce more success, because frankly, this sound has as much punch with me as it did over nine years ago, and today I’m not the same music listener I was way back then. Damn.
Don’t be scared to comment how generic and cheap you think this may sound.
Nice throw-back here. I forgot about “Better Days.” It really reminds me of listening to the radio in Champaign. Back in a time when bands like 311, Beck, and even Sublime to some extent were big, this sound was huge. Break beats combined with samples, turn table scratches and soulful singing over a gritty rap.
Billhilly really reminds me of Mellow Gold and Odelay era Beck.
Keep the credibility coming, son.