The first solo album by the legendary King's X drummer, Come Somewhere gives Jerry Gaskill a chance to showcase not only his superb drumming but his lead vocal abilities as well. Jerry is aided by King's X bandmate Ty Tabo... more »r on guitars and production.« less
The first solo album by the legendary King's X drummer, Come Somewhere gives Jerry Gaskill a chance to showcase not only his superb drumming but his lead vocal abilities as well. Jerry is aided by King's X bandmate Ty Tabor on guitars and production.
CD Reviews
Jerry Gaskill - Come Somewhere
Mr. S. St Thomas | UK | 11/08/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album has caught me completely off-guard.
I didn't know what to expect from the drummer of one of my favourite bands in my life. It was expected that I'd buy it, but what I was buying I was unsure of. Gaskill's presence as a songwriter for King's X seems mostly evident in the songs 'American Cheese' from Ear Candy, and 'Six Broken Soldiers' from Faith Hope Love. Two songs in a nearly 20 year recording career is not a lot to go on. But his voice was always distinguishable in King's X, so I knew what I was getting in that at least.
I am a huge fan of Doug Pinnick's Poundhound albums, particularly Pineappleskunk, and I bought both of those releases when they came out. I am a later fan of Ty Tabor's solo work, having just recently purchased both Safety and Moonflower Lane. I had owned Naomi's Solar Pumpkin since its release in 1997, but I have to be honest and say that it didn't particularly floor me at the time. I took a recent listen to it, realised it was actually very good, which prompted me to buy his 'official' releases. Gaskill's album I picked up a little while after its initial release.
Since I bought it, it has not been off my cd player in weeks. I can listen to this album once, twice, or three times in a row, and have at times. I am slowly coming to the conclusion that this album has become my favourite of the King's X solo releases, though I have been an admitted fan of anything Pinnick does solo anyway. There is a certain something that Gaskill has captured on this CD that I haven't heard on a King's X album in about 3 years, maybe even longer, maybe 12 years.
The songs are mostly all acoustic based, and the heavy sections only appear when needed. But what happens on these 15 songs is something I can remember happening on the first 4 King's X albums. Something a little mystical in the music, something unsaid happening in the songs. Maybe that's just me, but there is a vibe throughout Gaskill's CD that is very hard to find on some of the latest King's X offerings. It only makes me hope that Gaskill takes an even stronger role in the King's X writing chores next time around.
First of all, Gaskill's sense of melody is even more distinct and harmonious than Tabor's obvious talents. Where Tabor emulates Lennon's blues based melodies, Gaskill is far closer to McCartney's classical derived melodic lines, and for some reason, it makes these songs incredibly accessible to a wider variety of people. This album is in homage to The Beatles just in execution, but one has to realise The Beatles and other European bands were just as influenced by the Bach's and the Beethoven's as the Chuck Berry's and Elvis Presley's.
This album is full of irresistibly catchy melodies. I could recommend this album to anyone unfamiliar with King's X, and not worry that they would be 'put-off' by this thing or that thing, whatever that may be. Songs like 'She's Cool', 'Johnny's Song', 'All The Way Home', 'I Saw You Yesterday', in fact any one of the 15 songs are so radio-friendly (apart from 'Face The Day'), that I can only hope someone starts requesting at least something from this album to be heard on American or European radio stations.
My wife is not much of a King's X fan, but the few songs she has heard from Gaskill's solo album she has liked emphatically. She actually called the album 'refreshing' compared to what else is out there on the music scene. From a non-King's X fan to endorse a King's X related album has to say that this album deserves a bit more attention. This album deserves to reach as many ears as possible, because it seems so many different ears will be able to appreciate it.
If you don't like it on first listen, give it another chance. Let the album sink in, because pretty soon you'll find the songs are starting to stay in your head, the melodies and arrangements are that good.
Come Somewhere is quickly becoming to these ears, possibly the best solo release from a member of King's X. And it's the drummer!"
King's X Does It Again
Mark Flickinger | Hanover, PA United States | 05/20/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After waiting years(I think Jerry first mentioned a solo album back when Doug and Ty did their first ones)I catch my first listen to "Come Somewhere" by King's X skinman Jerry Gaskill. I wasn't sure what to expect at first. All we ever heard from Jerry in the past was "Six Broken Soldiers" and "American Cheese". First off let me say that nothing on here sounds like "Soldiers". But that's in no way a bad thing. What you get is several layers of Jerry's fine acoustic guitar playing and drumming and a dash here and there of Ty's electric guitar and subtle keyboards. A fine bake indeed. Vocally Jerry sounds pretty much like you'd expect. "A nasally version of Ty" a friend of mine once said. This is true but Jerry's songwriting is different than Ty's. The whole album has an unpredicatble John Lennon quality. There'll be a nice straight- ahead acoustic riff thing going on and then all of a sudden an "I Am The Walrus bridge" comes swirling through the speakers. This is very evident on "She's Cool". Some of the tracks have that "American Cheese" vocal melody but elsewhere this is a Jerry Gaskill that none of us have heard before. From what I can gather from most of the lyrics he's been divorced. I guess he got the kids because tracks 1 and 3 both talk about that. Bottom line is that this is a great album and is my favorite of 2004 so far. King's X does it again!!!"
Real life is not a crime...
Evan T. Gibson | 07/29/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Some people spoke above of liking King's X for their positive stance... I always liked them for their REALISTIC stance. They talked of things both good and bad and didn't hide behind platitudes, they are real people with real problems and they want to be better than they are.
It's great to see this honesty and, yes, there's a very small amount of language on this album and, yes, it deals with a few adult concepts and a bit of escapism, but it's honest and it admits freely that there are better ways and it wishes it could live up to them.
It retains hope.
For those in white towers this album might seem like a downer, but for those of us who _are_ depressed and have to deal with stuff like this, it's light in the darkness still and it's one close enough for us to reach, unlike stupid feel-good rubbish that is completely unbelievable and detached from real life.
Too many Christians live in denial and lie to both God and themselves that everything is perfect, and refuse to even think or talk about real problems.
King's X are honest and real and are worth so much more because they _share_ their tribulations and the trials they have as men trying to make it through their lives.
Enough of that...
Musically this album is different from what I expected, very John Lennon guitar pop type stuff in most places. Melodic and catchy and vastly different in most places from Kings X. I really like it and can happily play it to more of my friends or just leave it on in the background while we're doing something else. Not all of Kings X is as accessible...
Hmmm... Maybe this could be a stepping stone to help get someone into King's X more..."
4.5 stars... real close to perfect and unique
David Koblentz | Edison, New Jersey | 05/04/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This one has been a long time Come(ing). Jerry (the legendary drummer of the oft underappreciated by the masses, loved by musicians King's X) finally unleashes his solo work. A great album can be listened to in one gulp, prepare to swallow. While some of the latest King's X efforts have been a bit lackluster this one strides home in it's focus and overall attention to the feel as an "album". This isnt (or doesnt listen like it is) a collection of songs that jerry has had brewing over the years. It owes much in direction to the beatles and led zep (think of their acoustic guitar material). The acoustic is very prevalent here.. and for a drummer's solo album (usually the kiss of death) we are treated to a virtual lesson in song writing with conviction first, chops a very little considered component. It is solid chops wise.. but if that is all you are looking for, look somewhere else. Jerry brings a unique inflection to his vocals and lyric delivery, often choosing odd ways to break up syllables rather than get stuck in basic (and trite) rythymic patterns (ie a/b a/b rhyme patterns). The lyrics can be read so many different ways.. or not read at all, they arent required as a component to enjoy the album but are a surprising extra layer of depth to be enjoyed if you want to delve deeper than a casual listen in the car. This is a pretty mellow album with it's moments of heavier riffs... but more trippy than bangy. It almost presents itself as one long song (or story). There are a few sinister type of moments (like "crazy") but they are not full out thrash, almost more of a creeping tempo.
The CD art is solid and over all well packaged. The production is fantastic, the acoustic guitar is bright when it needs to be and the electric guitar/bass is subdued, which fits into the album. Ty Tabor told me personally that as of this moment he is the proudest he has ever been about a CD's sound... who am I to argue with that?
The only reason it didnt score 5 stars is that I am not totally in love with 100% the songs (I am not sold on "the kids" and "walk alone")... but this is real close to an absolutely classic release. The generations this spans are enormous.. and jerry pulls it off. If you go in with preconceived notions you might be dissapointed, let the feel be the focus, not what it has to do (or not) with King's X."
Awesome Cd
David Koblentz | 05/07/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is Jerry Gaskill's first solo outing. I think he feels right at home behind the drum kit singing lead vocals. Come Somewhere is his new album featuring Ty Tabor, his band mate in King's X. Tabor steps up and helps out with some exceptional guitar work and certainly makes Gaskill feel right at home. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that this music sounds similar to King's X, and that is a good thing because familiarity can help you at times, and in this case I think it does. Gaskill does his best impression of Phil Collins and Nick D'Virgillio by putting out an awesome solo album and catching everyone off guard with how good his vocals are. The King's X influences are ever-present with the hard rockin' riffs and Beatlesque sounds hovering around the fringes at all times. It is a remarkably appealing combination of rhythm, melody, and straight ahead rock with biting lyrics to get both hemispheres in your brain working. I found the CD cover art very thought provoking. It could have many meanings dependent upon your own personal point of view or your place in life. Possibly the image of the woman relates to loneliness and baring your naked soul in a (nearly) empty room, so everyone in the world can see you totally revealed, then hopefully someone will come along and take you by the hand and show you a better way towards the light of life and living. The naked woman all curled up in a ball in a corner, looks very frightened, and she seems to need help. The picture certainly opens the door for many thoughts and ideas to the underlying theme of this project. In "L.A. Flight," Gaskill sings about changing the pain from black to white, which is an interesting play on words and something to reflect upon. If you are a listener that really hears the lyrics and what the artist is trying to convey, you will find a lot to sink your teeth into on this release. "Garden Stroll" brings Frank Zappa back to life when a voice that is a dead ringer for Frank interjects some spoken word into the song. It is almost as if Zappa laid down the voiceover and put it in the can for Jerry to use for this album someday, it's eerie as hell. I felt I got another clue about what this story is all about in that particular song. The album cover does have one plant in it, which could signify the existence of a garden, and there is mention of cocaine, so perhaps this is about addiction and the loneliness it can bring into one's life, threatening sanity and a normal semblance of life. The singularity of the plant's life gives hope, which I think is a key. Let's face it, what is normal about sitting in an empty room naked with a plant looking distraught and confused? On "Hello Mrs.," another excellent composition that rocks, when Gaskill sings the harmony in between his heavy-duty emotive lyrics, he sounds like Marc Bolan of T. Rex. There are so many surprises found on this album, I think that is why I spent so much time taking it all in and processing it. It all starts when you look at the cover and then when the music starts the journey starts and never ends. Maybe I got a little too heavy with what this all could mean but I just could not help myself. The lyrics forced me to ponder my inner self and then my thoughts translated to feelings within my heart, thereby allowing me to formulate my perceptions of the entire album. What really counts when all it is all over is that you will have a great album to listen to whether you have ears for music, lyrics, or both. This is a great album worth checking out."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1