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Westminster, Colorado
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Warner Drive stays in stride with K-go!
by Tom Walsh
I wasn’t sure if the new release “K-go” by L.A. rockers Warner Drive would be able to top their full length release “Fully Loaded”. Fully Loaded is a great album featuring two of my favorite songs from this band, The Shocker and Viper Room. The first song, The Shocker, is about….well…..umm….if you don’t know what it’s about I suggest you listen to the lyrics closely but be warned, it is a mature audience song. Viper Room is an ode to Warner Drive’s home away from home and is a kick ass song with a driving beat that you can’t help but bounce to. But this review is not about Fully Loaded it’s about K-Go and while K-Go doesn’t top Fully Loaded in my opinion, it keeps pace with it.
K-go is a fictional FM pirate radio station - created by Warner Drive for this CD -that has the freedom to play what they want, when they want. What do they want to play? Why, Warner Drive of course. K-Go abounds with shtick, from the Warner Drive interview to the small commercial breaks to the static/white noise at the beginning and end of the CD. In a word, it’s brilliant.
It’s brilliant not only because of the way the CD was recorded and put together, but the song writing and execution of the songs is brilliant as well. When you listen to this album you get straight up rock and roll laced with just enough punk swagger to make it interesting and different. Warner Drive keeps their
music current while borrowing from, and paying homage to the L.A. rock of the eighties. So it’s a great album to listen to whether you’re forty or sixteen. The songs on this CD are not written from a technical point of view, instead they rely on power, over the top and anthemic choruses, great tongue in cheek lyrics and a party vibe.
OK-KGO is the lead track on this CD and it is about the fictional pirate radio station K-go. Basically the pretense here is that you should listen to what you like instead of being force fed what the stations play over and over. The song starts with kicking drums that gets your feet going before the rest of the music even comes into play. After the build up the song goes into straight up hard rock. As with most of the tracks on this CD OK-KGO is an upbeat tune with infectious choruses, driving guitar and a great rhythm section. The lyrics are expertly written (in my opinion) and Jonny sings them in his unique, raspy, somewhat baritone voice with emotion.
Faking Smiles is a song that can appeal to almost anyone. Even when you’re not in the mood there are times when you have to plaster a fake smile on your face while inside you may be seething or in a serious funk. The song starts with a raw drum track by itself and then the music kicks in suddenly hitting you like a freight train. The chorus on this song is probably one of the catchiest on the CD which is strange because it’s the most serious track on K-go and deals with feelings that are not necessarily happy.
While listening to The Whore I could almost detect a little Motley Crue swirled up in that song. Again, the song is catchy as hell, rocking, and the lyrics seem to be written with a nod and a wink to sexual references commonly used by the eighties hair bands.
I will not go into every song on this CD but I will tell you that the new improved version of The Scarecrow kicks major ass. The changes to the song are not abundant and do not mess with the original song too much. The almost un-noticeable horns that have been thrown into the song give it a fresh feel while keeping the groove going. It also seems to have been re-mastered, which brings everything more to the front of the song making it really easy to jam out to.
The only times you will not be jamming and/or banging you head, bouncing, etc. is when they slow down on Miles Away which leans towards the eighties era rock ballads and during the “interview”.
Overall this CD is one I find myself listening to over and over. I love rock n roll and I love punk. K-go gives me a little of both. K-go is hard rock but probably not as hard as Guns N Roses or Motley Crue. It is, however, in the same ball park as the two aforementioned bands. If you’re a fan of guitar rock, eighties hair rock or just plain ole rock n roll I highly suggest picking this CD up and cranking it loud, but be warned…..cuss words and adult humor abound on this CD. If that doesn’t offend then pick up K-go and be
prepared to be rocked!
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Posted on May 9, 2011
Click image to check out Warner Drive K-go! on iTunes.
