THE SAINTS – King Of The Sun

Shane | 25 October 2012 | Reply

Label: Highway125
Released: 24 September 2012
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8/10

Chris Bailey is revered around the world as a punk legend on the strength of The Saints scathing first three albums, released 1977 – 1978 and spawning such era-defining songs as I’m Stranded, Demolition Girl and Know Your Product.

That initial incarnation of the band imploded rapidly, and Bailey went on to create an enormous amount of music both under his own name, leading multiple line-ups of The Saints, and in collaboration with a myriad of different artists in a myriad of different styles.

He’s never revisited the coruscating punk aggression of that debut Saints album, but he remains the quintessential punk rock artist – he does what he wants, when he wants, and he cares little how he is viewed for doing so. Take his most recent jaunt through Europe for almost two years playing with a French band, or his eccentric (to say the least) appearance on SBS TV show Rockwiz a few years ago for proof.

“King Of The Sun” is a collection of throbbing, pulsating, mostly mid-tempo songs that remind us how much we need artists like Bailey to reconnect us with the true drive behind creating for it’s own sake – not for fame or money, but for art, because the artist has something to say.

Melodically beguiling, lyrically full of light and shade and musically captivating, The Saints 2012 have captured a sliver of truth masquerading as sunlight and laid it down on tape.

The title track, Sweet Chariot’s rough, smokey blues feel, Million Miles Away’s late night, wine-infused jadedness, the optimistic love of All That’s On My Mind, and the charming melody of album closer Adventures In The Dark Arts Of Watermelonry all remind us how lucky we are to have Bailey still here, still creating (He has released an incredible 20-plus albums and counting, now!), and still reminding us that creating art is something very different to the pursuit of fame and glory.

The album also comes with a bonus disc called “Songs From The Stash”, featuring 9 re-recorded gems from the past, including Ghost Ships, Photograph, All Fools Day and Just Like Fire Would, which is pretty much worth the price of admission alone.

http://www.saintsmusic.com/