King Khan & The Shrines
The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines
VICE Records
4 out of 5 stars
Release Date: June 17, 2008
I believe I have found the ultimate party album and a new favorite band. This is an album that could have easily been the soundtrack for the Delta house’s toga party in the cult classic film, Animal House. Words simply don’t do this band justice, they are just too beautiful. I mean, look at the album cover above. How could you not want to listen to these guys?
For those not familiar, King Khan & The Shrines were formed in 1999 and are based out of Berlin, Germany. They have a flair for the flamboyant and humor runs deep through their music. However, they can play and sound like they were put in a time capsule back in the early 1960s. would describe them as a garage rock band meets a psychedelic soul outfit. Led by the English singing King Khan (I can’t find this guy’s real name anywhere), who plays the ultimate frontman, The Shrines feature Ron Streeter (former live-percussionist for Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder), a three-piece horn section and a rhythm section with Motown chops. In all they are a 10-piece band of absolute joy. As their website says: King Khan & The Shrines have been spreading their love like peanut butter since 1999. Indeed they have.
The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines, finds the band plowing through 16 songs, all around the two- to three-minute mark and all of them stir up nostalgia of drive-in movies, nights at the hamburger stand and making out at the roller rink. Intentionally recorded with low fidelity studio techniques the album truly does sound vintage. I have trouble believing this album isn’t a reissue of an album originally released in the early-1960s. It is that believable.
Album standouts include: “Torture,” “Welfare Bread,” “Burning Inside,” and “Took My Lady To Dinner.”
