This is a peculiar record. Supposedly considered the Transgalactic One-Man Band from France, KING AUTOMATIC, also known as Jay Malisz, plays like JOE JACKSON doing garage rock with farfisa organ. Herky jerky, honky tonk style rhythms and screamy yet soulful blues croons dance an fight each other for dominance while harmonicas and harps and guitars each take turns on various songs. There's no doubt that there is something interesting going on here. But is interesting always good? There are times, like the first song, "Real King" where you feel like you are looking into a time capsule back to the 70's. Then there are other times where KING AUTOMATIC affects an ELVIS on LSD sort of feel, which can strangely come across as BIRTHDAY PARTY-era NICK CAVE. These latter moments are the most interesting, but are still only fleeting.

KING AUTOMATIC has style, he has attitude. It's impressive that one man can play all this stuff on stage, as is claimed on the website, but often times its comes off as either hokey, or too much all at once. The overwhelming presence of the farfisa can be blamed for this. It gives the album a very particular sound that is always present. It also could be the fact that one songwriter lacks the dynamics of two or even four songwriters. One can't help but feel that there is a market that would eat this up. Yet it is also hard not to feel that this is the kind of music that would be played in a church of the deranged, a fun-house church for mods, all distorted mirrors, skinny ties and pompadours, people sweating and clapping as if to some maniacal gospel of rock and roll. If that sounds like your thing, than you may be in luck. ne

- Blend 77

OFFICIAL SITE: www.kingautomatic.com

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: I Walk My Murderous Intentions Home

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