Album Review
The KBC - On The BeatThe KBC - On The Beat

It's time for some disco indie kids. Yes that's right, disco indie. At least that's what the KBC call themselves. I don't care what they class themselves as, I just know I bloody love it.

The first song, is their new single, "Poisonous Emblem." Instant thoughts are, "eh? What's all this about herbal tea?!" but once you've made it past the bizarre lyrical decisions of the opening lines, you'll realise they're stuck in your head for about six weeks, and you've just listened to an awesome song. Happy days, you might say.

Track two, a highlight of the album, starts with a crazy electronic pulse that baffles you, then launches you into guitar-fuelled powerful indie chord sequences, and disco beats. A regular drum-kit, with extra electronic padded noises overlaid and intertwined; well that's a bit fancy, and induces head-nodding and toe-twitching, I can assure you. "Not Anymore," a track to remember.

The whole album is song after song that you can imagine played at ridiculous volumes in a large room and everyone going nuts for. It's just what you'd hear if there were more indie clubs around. It's just brilliant. There are even a few songs that represent the "come down" of the evening, named "Day of Disillusion," and "Busy Hands."

Now, not just a highlight, but the highlight. The song that encapsulates the brilliance that is the KBC, "Pride Before The Fall." The epitome of the word catchy, and an awesome guitar riff with the same formula applied to the drums that makes you want to bop aimlessly. This northern three-piece are something special, and if they can keep making music like this, they're destined for greatness.

Of the remaining four tracks, none stand out as particular favourites, but the high octane penultimate track called "Best In Business," is certainly good fun. One of the few times on the album where you'll hear even a hint of a guitar solo, it's usually just bass and guitar working together on the rhythm, and the vocals, (with an essence of Suede) is relied on for the melodies. In all fairness, it's not needed, this is rock music you can dance to, and you don't dance to solos. I'm sorry, that's just not how it works.

The KBC are, talented. They've got a sound, and it's awesome. If Franz Ferdinand's parents owned a basement disco and they hung out in it after school for their childhood, they'd probably have made a band called the KBC. That's my take on things anyway.

4/5

Review by Thom
 Band Members
The KBC - Band
Jimmy (guitar, vocal, keys)
Michael (drums)
Rico (bass)
 Track Listing
1. POISONOUS EMBLEM
2. NOT ANYMORE
3. TRIPPIN
4. TEST THE WATER
5. DAY OF DISILLUSION
6. BUSY HANDS
7. PRIDE BEFORE THE FALL
8. SHERLOCK GROOVE-HOLMES
9. ZAITGEIST
10. BEST IN THE BUSINESS
11. MAD WITH ME
12. YOU ARE THE SIGN
13. DIVIDE THE RULE
14. STEVEN GET EVEN
 Band Related Links
The KBC Myspace
 Review Score Code
- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
- What Was That?