MEMPHIS RADIO KINGS are tired of bands that sound alike. Memphis Radio Kings are also tired of bands whose songs all sound the same. They have spent their lengthy and distinguished career trying to make songs that sound different from other songs they may have written. Why is this, you ask? Many bands find sweet gold in making the same songs over and over to please the masses, why not MRK? Is MRK too good for this approach?
Well, yes.. MRK can make many different kinds of digital audio files for your downloadable pleasure, so why shouldn’t they? Let me explain further.
When the founding members of MRK got tired of bringing the “rawk†in their previous band, they never set out to make roots music, country music, or so called Americana. They just wanted to write and play better songs. A reflection of their varied influences much more than any intentional direction, these songs felt organic and real. This, combined with a name chosen more because it sounded cool than with any particular identification with a place or time, caused them to be tightly embraced by lovers of “roots†music. As a result of this warm, cocoon-like embrace, accolades were heaped, many contests were won, great shows were played (INSERT BANDS HERE)
But also like any embrace, it became limiting and constricting over time, until they began to writhe under it’s pressure, ultimately kicking and bucking like a toddler in a car seat. To soothe this musical temper tantrum, MRK added a fourth member, producer and multi-instrumentalist Jon Goff, and began experimenting with different musical textures, moving further away from traditional music and closer to something uniquely their own.
They also discovered that there are subjects to write about other than booze, heartbreak, and “the roadâ€. So Beck and Leamer (MRK’s primary writers of words) began seeking inspiration outside of the roots rock cannon, exploring political themes (Shameless), the fleeting nature of youth and life itself (Sudden Summer, Divide) and self doubt (Frehley’s Comet).
And now here they present their latest series of data files, guaranteed to make your iPod squirm with glee: Another Punch From A So-Called Friend. Musically, it steps even further away from its predecessors, exploring piano-piano driven indie pop (Moment of Truth), driving rock (View from the Bottom), dance music (Set it Off, Find me Gone) and the textural balladry of the EP’s title cut. Lyrically, Leamer’s original vision was to use John Updike’s Rabbit novels as the inspiration for a concept album using these songs. While the fit wasn’t quite right as the songs came together, Updike’s unflinching look at the American dream through the extraordinary events in an ordinary life runs deeply through all of these songs. Careful listeners will find references to premature nostalgia, unrequited love, faded youth, and broken promises, as well as recognition of life’s sometimes too rare shimmering moments of happiness,
They have roots, but this isn’t roots music. This is decidedly American music, but don’t call it Americana. This is music influenced as much by John Updike as The Replacements or Bruce Springsteen. So download these files, put them into your playlist, and hope your crappy earbuds can do them justice. Another chapter, another reason to believe in unsung heros, “Another Punch From A So-Called Friendâ€.
