Future Kings Of Spain - Hanging Around

  by Jon Rogers

published: 28 / 12 / 2003

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Review

They´re not Spanish, but Irish and they aren´t likely to be sitting on any thrones in the near future but this Dublin trio aren't likely to be at the forefront of any revolutions either. The title is taken from their eponymous debut album and is light and breezy in a late era Boo Radleys kind of way or some of the less inspired moments of the Lemonheads. It is, effectively, indie music by a focus group. Nice melody with the odd bit of pumped up guitar, vocals sung with gusto in a we-really-mean-it kind of way. But it all just lacks any originality or any spark of individuality to set it apart from the mass of similar bands. It's the sort of thing that you can't really dislike but neither is it anything to get passionate about either. 'Hanging Around' could easily see them loitering aimlessly as an indie also ran. Much more impressive is the knockabout thrash of the B-side,'Hedwig and the Angry Inch'. It's all boisterous hardcore screaming and mutilated guitars. It's certainly been done before but the Future Kings of Spain add a vitality and eagerness to it all.

Track Listing:-

1 Hanging Around
2 What's The Kim?
3 Hedwig And The Angry Inch