Wow. I loved ‘Space Camp’ but I love ‘Lady Melody’ more. This isn’t just a follow-up to a great record; it’s everything and more. Infact, I’d go as far as saying this is the best record I’ve heard all year. On top of the luscious melodies and singalong hooks, you have a thoughtful and introspective record with production to die for. Art Barrios’ vocals have really come into their own, while Jason Camacho’s guitar work is as inventive as any pop-punk band around. But to be fair to AK they’re no longer a pop-punk band; ‘Lady Melody’ is the record that sets them apart from the crappy genre classifications and propels them into the big leagues.
From the opening bars of first single ‘Jesus Is Alive and Well (and Living in Mexico)’ to the closing ‘Who Brings a Knife to a Gun Fight’ this is a must-have record. The choruses are huge, keeping on the tradition ‘Space Camp’ left, but things have progressed so much. It’s a mature record, without coming across as trite, with the all-round quality really standing out. Of course Bill Stevenson’s production is fantastic, but any fan of the band (like myself) really couldn’t have hoped for a better record. Imagine the progression Brand New made between ‘Your Favorite Weapon’ and ‘Deja Entendu’ and you can see the scale of the jump that Audio Karate has managed to carry out.
‘Jesus Is Alive and Well…’ is different to anything on the previous record, starting with a cacophony of drums and squally guitars (which are awesome throughout – you should be proud Jason) before flowing into the chorus of the year. There are so many highlights on offer on ‘Lady Melody’ – ‘Party at the Lexington Queen’ is great, ‘Hey Maria’ amazing (how much passion is in vocals?!) but for me it’s ‘Catch and Release’ that stands out miles and miles above every song. Everything about this track is amazing…I can’t actually find a superlative to describe it. It’s simply the song I can’t stop listening to. Of course I haven’t even mentioned ‘A Whole Lotta Weight’ or ‘Gypsyqueen’ yet. Find a bad song – I dare ya.
Audio Karate not only grew up, but they found their own sound and nailed it. Every single song here is a keeper, full of interesting guitar leads and Art’s unique vocals. There’s passion, anger, aggression, feeling – and all of this is conveyed without losing a single drop of the energy and melody that encapsulates everything Audio Karate are about. Not only will this be in my top 10 albums of the year (and it’s only April), but it will be battling it out for the number one slot. This is everything I hoped for and so much more. Their UK tour cannot come soon enough.
www.audiokarate.com
Kung Fu Records
Paul