****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This CD is Brilliant. I think most people who don't rate this one high are generally Kings X fans from the Gretchen Goes to Hollywood and Out of the Silent Planet period. This CD is as much of a departure from that period as Rubber Soul and Revolver were from the earlier Beatles recordings. There are no throw-away tunes on this CD. Each song is a jewel. Production is phenomenal. I had to re-check the cover a few times to make sure George Martin wasn't listed. There is a lot of experimentation with different sounds. Sometimes that can be a bad thing, but on Ear Candy all the experimentation serves the song, and is integral to the composition of the individual tracks. No gimmicks. As for Ty Tabor, he is not known for playing many wasted notes, but on Ear Candy everything he plays is essential. Take a solo out and you've screwed the song. I think this CD holds his best playing. There is a little more of Ty's vocals and influence on Ear Candy, and Doug comes out a little more subdued, but what you learn from that is how versitile and subtle Doug can be. Jerry's drumming is fabulous, as always. One of rock's most under-rated drummers!If you are new to King's X, I would start here. This CD has the most to offer to the widest audience. Usually that means a crappy album, but occasionally, as with Ear Candy, it means a masterpiece.
