XV

While this may or may not be the Texas trio's 15th release it surely ranks among their best. 'XV' is the second album with producer Michael Wagener (Extreme & Metallica) and again was recorded in Nashville. The band took a more relaxed approach by writing all the songs individually and ahead of time before tweaking them slightly in the studio. One of the most obvious differences is the use of various background singers on the choruses of "Alright" and "Broke" to create a feel similar to their all-inclusive live performances. Each member contributes to the songwriting & singing; even drummer Jerry Gaskill lends a rare lead vocal to the simple but poignant "Julie", recalling Tom Petty channeling the Beatles. Doug Pinnick's 12-string bass makes a welcome return on the opener "Pray For Me" and Ty Tabor's economical guitar solos always amaze. Fans of the old-school King's X vocal harmonies will swoon over "Stuck" and "I Don't Know".

King's X: Ty Tabor (vocals, guitar); Doug Pinnick (vocals, bass guitar); Jerry Gaskill (vocals, drums).

Recorded at WireWorld Studios.