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NON-FICTION
by The Kingdom Flying Club

(www.emergencyumbrella.com)

Reviewed by Ben T. Steckler

This quartet from Columbia, Missouri plays a bright, jangly pop-punk in the vein of The Lemonheads. That's good, and bad. At their worst on this disc, The Kingdom Flying Club sounds like Evan Dando and company 15 years ago. But at their best on this disc, the band still sounds like Evan Dando and company 15 years ago.

I'm not saying that this isn't a good disc. It's a great date-disc; one that you can play for your girlfriend without upsetting her. It makes pleasant background music while I'm at the drawing table, and I'd imagine I could make out to it if I ever brought another date home. But The Kingdom Flying Club doesn't do enough here to establish a sound uniquely theirs to make this a disc I'd rock out to at home alone. The closest they come to rocking out is on "Now We Watch the Luge (and drink)". There's a title that holds such promise! But even here they sound like any one of six or so bands from that old Saturday Morning Cartoons' Greatest Hits compilation. You know, the album where all the Lemonheads/Weezer wannabe bands covered cartoon theme songs back in 1994.

Then again, it's been a while since I've heard anything new by Evan Dando. Maybe this record is filling a wanted niche in the market. If you liked the Lemonheads, or The La's, you'll surely enjoy this disc. I just don't find it unique enough to write much about it.

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