The K’s released their debut album I Wonder If The World Knows? this month via LAB Records, and what an album it is. The K’s music might be considered as indie, but you will find pop-punk and rock elements on this record too.
The album gets off to a flying start with opener Icarus. The song starts off slowly with violins, before bursting energetically to begin what should become a live favourite. Vocalist Jamie Boyle commented recently that Icarus only made the album at the last second, and they will be glad that it did make it. The lively start continues with Heart On My Sleeve, which has an excellent guitar opening, before Boyle sings in his renowned Warrington twang. This one could be a summer indie anthem. The guitar work from Ryan Breslin is incredible. It is hard to think that this is The K’s debut album. The Earlestown band certainly have a massive place ahead of them in the music industry, and some of these songs will go down well on their upcoming UK tour.
“I missed the train, I’m separated from my mates, I’m in the rain” chants Boyle in the first lines Chancer, a track that has been going down well live since it was released last March. Chancer is about being separated from your mates during a night out, but still having a great night without them – it’s already an anthem. Throw It All Away keeps the momentum going, while Lights Go Down is a piano-led ballad and is the most laid back track on the album, helped on with an excellent guitar solo halfway through from Breslin.
Hometown is another of the tracks that was released in 2023 and is slightly different to what we’ve heard previously. A song about their hometown of Earlestown, the song opens with Status Quo influences, as Breslin’s guitar work shines through. The K’s have been playing this one live for a while, but shows no signs of losing the energy it creates at the live shows. Landmines begins with a ten second drum solo, before the guitars come in as Boyle sings “Walking around all night, dodging the landmines.” The song itself perhaps referring to being young and staying out at the weekend, which we have all done right? The guitar work on this one is immense, helping to create a feel-good factor as the album continuously gains momentum. The energy from Landmines is absolutely thrilling, at the end we get a great combination of drums, guitars and lyrics.
Hoping Maybe is another of the anthemic tracks from the album. There’s normally a ‘phones out’ moment when the band play it live, it certainly was when we saw them playing Sound City in Liverpool last year. As Boyle comments: “Hoping Maybe is the track that means the most to me, when we play it live there is a special bond with the crowd.” The chorus is very emotional for Boyle, as he sings: “I was hoping maybe, that you would try to save me.” No Place Like Home has a nice bass riff running throughout from Dexter Baker, giving guitarist Breslin a run for his money.
Recently released Black & Blue is next up and is a high energy track. “We are going round in circles and wasting our time” sings Boyle during Circles, another big guitar track – boy do this four-piece know how to play their instruments. The album ends on a gentler note with Valley One, piano-led alongside violin and Boyle’s excellent vocals.
There is honestly not a bad song on this twelve-track album, for us it’s right up there with the best albums of the year so far. It wouldn’t surprise us if I Wonder If The World Knows? takes the number one spot this week.
9/10
Standout Tracks: Chancer, Hometown, Hoping Maybe
For Fans Of: The Clause, Stanleys, The Reytons
Written by: Alan Brown
