Boy King
The UK art-rock outfit’s brilliant new album. *Boy King* is that most satisfying of things. A daring step in a fresh direction that comes off beautifully. It’s a lascivious, muscular record, pulsing with crunching guitars and Hayden Thorpe’s prodigious falsetto. “Big Cat”, “Get My Bang”, and “He the Colossus” are the taut and slithery bangers, while closer “Dreamliner”—gorgeous and operatic—serves to highlight the far-reaching talents of a very special band.
Wild Beasts' Boy King replaces the ornate detail of its predecessors with machine-tooled funk and pitch-shifted gasps. It's by no means a disaster, but it is a disappointment.
Wild Beasts' Boy King replaces the ornate detail of its predecessors with machine-tooled funk and pitch-shifted gasps. It's by no means a disaster, but it is a disappointment.
Early on England’s Wild Beasts reveled in the Morrissey-like theatrics spilling from their brooding indie rock, with dual vocalists Hayden Thorpe and Tom Fleming candidly gnawing the scenery of each track. They were an acquired taste. The vocals felt like one continuous flourish, practically operatic in form, and the…
Early on England’s Wild Beasts reveled in the Morrissey-like theatrics spilling from their brooding indie rock, with dual vocalists Hayden Thorpe and Tom Fleming candidly gnawing the scenery of each track. They were an acquired taste. The vocals felt like one continuous flourish, practically operatic in form, and the…
Wild Beasts have long done cerebral, but here they’re hitting the body.
Wild Beasts have long done cerebral, but here they’re hitting the body.
Wearing hearts, lungs and other vulnerable organs on their sleeves, Cumbrian artisans Wild Beasts turn their gaze to the male ego on their newest record.
Wearing hearts, lungs and other vulnerable organs on their sleeves, Cumbrian artisans Wild Beasts turn their gaze to the male ego on their newest record.
There's always been a potent element of performativity to Wild Beasts' music: the syrupy pianos and synths; Hayden Thorpe and Tom Fleming's...
There's always been a potent element of performativity to Wild Beasts' music: the syrupy pianos and synths; Hayden Thorpe and Tom Fleming's...
As Wild Beasts get older, they get wiser—continuing to move inexorably towards a carnal lust that proves more dark and twisted than the teenage fumbles of their earlier incarnations.
As Wild Beasts get older, they get wiser—continuing to move inexorably towards a carnal lust that proves more dark and twisted than the teenage fumbles of their earlier incarnations.
Wild Beasts have always been about two things: producing meticulously crafted indie rock that fuses smooth electronica with intelligent guitar
Wild Beasts have always been about two things: producing meticulously crafted indie rock that fuses smooth electronica with intelligent guitar
With Boy King, Wild Beasts stumbles into a garish new style that’s heavy on sweat, sex, and cynicism.
With Boy King, Wild Beasts stumbles into a garish new style that’s heavy on sweat, sex, and cynicism.
'Boy King' by Wild Beasts, album review by Adam Williams. The full-length comes out on August 5th via Domino. Wild Beasts play August 29th in Hove, UK.
'Boy King' by Wild Beasts, album review by Adam Williams. The full-length comes out on August 5th via Domino. Wild Beasts play August 29th in Hove, UK.
“I’ve got to be on top,” Hayden Thorpe croons on Big Cat, the opening track of Wild Beasts’ fifth album, his breathy falsetto oozing sensuality over a slinky electronic throb.
“I’ve got to be on top,” Hayden Thorpe croons on Big Cat, the opening track of Wild Beasts’ fifth album, his breathy falsetto oozing sensuality over a slinky electronic throb.
Cumbrians continue to rework notions of what a rock band can be. CD new music review by Joe Muggs
Cumbrians continue to rework notions of what a rock band can be. CD new music review by Joe Muggs