The self-titled 2009 release from Crash Kings successfully blends pop and piano rock with catchy vocals to create a modern rock album that stands up listen after listen. The three-piece packs enough punch to sound like they’ve got double the men behind their kit and the rhythm to make it all happen. Brothers Tony and Mike Beliveau, along with drummer Jason Morris, create a sound that draws comparisons to Ben Folds Five and The White Stripes. Originally from Boston but honing their sound out in Los-Angeles, the Beliveau brothers prefer to keep their music in the family, says lead vocalist and piano man Tony,
“I wanted a trio and my brother Mike and I have such a strong connection and we understand each other musically and emotionally so well; he was my obvious choice.”
It all began with a chance meeting with Linda Perry and she quickly offered the trio a spot on her label Custard Records, also home to James Blunt and Ben Jelen. Perry and Crash Kings soon enlisted the help of David Sardy to produce their debut, and the result is an album of buoyant but powerful melodies.
Though we hear more Ben Folds than White Stripes, Tony spares us the wimpy, emo lyrics. His aggressive singing style while he pounds the keys is an exciting alternative to most of what you find on the radio. Stand-out track “Come Away” is a dreamy ride with a sing-along chorus and it works brilliantly. This is a refreshing tune, with a smash-single sensibility. The Bean Town band then shows their range on “Non-Believer”, which has lyrics and a melody their peers would be jealous of.
Crash Kings offer layered vocals and quality production that help add to the overall fun factor, and they’ve got a solid handle on pure musicianship. Did we mention they do all this without lead guitar? Don’t worry, you won’t miss it. Instead, Tony offers us his custom Clavinet, a keyboard with a whammy bar and distortion pedal made to imitate the function of guitar. He can bend and hold notes with the Clavinet, just as you would on a guitar, which is a good thing given the muscle of this album. The Clavinet is the sparkling centrepiece of many of the songs, yet it doesn’t overshadow the other instruments. It’s no surprise then that the songwriting process usually begins with Tony following reflections of his experiences with nature; a fitting connection given the energy and sound textures that hold this record together.
Crash Kings show maturity and whimsy on this record. Even on closing ballad “My love”, the guys start out gentle and eventually dive into another catchy and memorable chorus. The forceful style and tight drums keep everything from getting sleepy. Even after 36 minutes the skillful time changes keep you guessing.
This record is piano-rock at its best, and for a debut, the arrangements are very clever and altogether like-able. Crash Kings have given us an impressive piece of work, and hopefully, there’s plenty more where this came from.
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