Flight B741＜限定盤/Recycled Black Vinyl＞

Since their formation in 2011, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have released many albums and explored many styles while trying quite a few different concepts. Theyve delved into thrash metal, hip-hop, electronica, jazz, garage rock, and of course psychedelia, and theyve made records based on microtonal tunings, records where theyve restricted themselves to one chord, and records about the end of the world or tales of the dusty Outback. All of it has been interesting and some of it has been brilliant. Until now. On Flight b741, the band got back in touch with their classic rock roots -- think Steve Miller Band, the Stones, Faces -- and decided to make a record that was just about kicking back, rocking out, and having some serious fun. They do a few things they havent done before, like sharing the vocals among all the bandmembers and relying heavily on backing vocal harmonies, but there are no left detours or distractions along the way to their most straight-forward and uncomplicated rock album yet. ~ Tim Sendra

Since their formation in 2011, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have released many albums and explored many styles while trying quite a few different concepts. Theyve delved into thrash metal, hip-hop, electronica, jazz, garage rock, and of course psychedelia, and theyve made records based on microtonal tunings, records where theyve restricted themselves to one chord, and records about the end of the world or tales of the dusty Outback. All of it has been interesting and some of it has been brilliant. Until now. On Flight b741 the band got back in touch with their classic rock roots -- think Steve Miller Band, the Stones, Faces -- and decided to make a record that was just about kicking back, rocking out, and having some serious fun. The lads rounded up some cheap amps, loosened up their lyrics, cranked up the riffs, and just kind of rocked. At least that was the plan. Unfortunately, as unique and impressive as King Gizzard can be when theyre traveling the fringes of psych rock or digging deep into a conceptual detour, they arent any great shakes when it comes to being a straightforward rock & roll group. Sure, they hit all the right notes -- chugging like Keith & Ronnie, rambling like Steve Miller, or carousing like Rod and the boys -- but it comes across like second-hand nostalgia. In fact, the band that most of the album comes closest to approximating is the Black Crowes, but unlike that band, who brought the boogie sound back to life when it was dead and buried, King Gizzard dont do anything to imprint their personality on a tried-and-true sound. The laid-back country-rock songs like "Mirage City" meander along pleasantly, the cowbell rockers like "Raw Feel" are glossed-over, and the rest of the record flickers between loose-limbed jams and oddball blues-rockers like the truly goofy "Hog Calling Contest" and the forced good times of "Daily Blues." The band do a few things they havent done before, like splitting the vocals among all the bandmembers and relying heavily on backing vocal harmonies, but to no avail. Some of King Gizzards endless experiments havent quite worked, and occasionally their need to try new things leads them down paths they really shouldnt take. Sadly, Flight b741 is the first record theyve made where it might make more sense to avoid the journey and stick to revisiting some of their glorious excursions of the past. ~ Tim Sendra