Broken Things
© Copyright-Robert Lee King
(783707338408)
Record Label: indie
SPECIAL: 10% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!
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It was the early summer of 2004 and Robert’s first full length CD “Borrowed Time” hit the shelves. Much to his surprise, the album quickly garnered quite a bit of radio play both on terrestrial and internet based stations. This left him with a new problem, how to support the interest these tracks seemed to have.
Nothing on the album had been written with the solo performer in mind so, how does one perform live a full band without the band? The answer of course is, you don’t. Over the next year and many false starts, the idea of putting together the live band fell apart.
It wasn’t for lack of talented musicians but more because the music in question wasn’t your average pop fodder.
So, while still searching, Robert went back to work recording the album you are currently listening to and hopefully planning to purchase.
As before, every song was recorded one track at a time, one part at a time. The difference this time, was that these tracks all began life with lyrics at least partially written out ahead of time. The idea was to write an album that stood alone. Something that though individual tracks could be taken separately, was meant to be listened to as a whole.
There is a story here, a look into Robert’s life and the world around him.
Life, Death, Love, and War all play a heavy role in these songs.
Some might ask, why does he offer his music so inexpensively. This is a fair question, since generally human beings perceive something cheap as being bad. Whether that is the case here is up to the listener to judge but the point of the low price has more to do with Robert’s own ethic in this world. Why should anyone be forced to pay 10, 15, 20 dollars or more for an unknown? Especially in an age when you could just as easily download anything you wish for free all over the internet.
Why offer them for sale at all then? This is simple, Robert wants you to hear these songs and to share them with your friends and loved ones if they touch you. Simply throwing them up on a website can’t do that because you don’t know who he is and likely never would have had you not come here.
All comments are welcome, so, even if you don’t purchase this CD, feel free to leave your thoughts on the songs you listened to.
If you want the digital downloads, get em here (cheaper than iTunes:))
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I think that people would be stupid to pass up owning the CD.
author: Christopher Wadkins
I liked all that I heard. I think that people would be stupid to pass up owning the CD. Robert Lee King has a touch with his music that the music industry has lost. His music is raw and from the heart. It is honest. I think if people will just give it a chance, they will be pleasantly surprized.
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Unknown rocker opens his proverbial diary with amateur charm.
author: Kristen Brown
Not a whole lot is known about Robert Lee King. He hails from Visalia, California, and his first album was released what seems to be relatively quietly in March of 2004. His second and most recent, Broken Things, has proven to be a very interesting undertaking. The eleven-track LP is pretty much a grab bag of various influences: everything from blues, to 70s rock and 80s metal. In the interest of pure honesty and artistic integrity—in truth, it’s a very amateur album. While Robert Lee King’s guitar work is no doubt widely influenced and experienced, it’s pretty overpowering at times.
In “The War Wages On”, the heavy 80s metal riffs push through at blinding speed and stifling intensity, which is a bit much for King’s quieter vocals (which have apparently been compared to Bowie and Jon Bon Jovi, although I hear a distinct air of Clapton). However, in other songs, like the sweet and 70s styled “Jaimie”, and the slow and rolling “Working Man Blues”, he seems to have toned it down a bit to create a smoother match and some all-around very good songs. And while he may not have yet mastered the art completely as of yet, Robert Lee King proves himself to be a successful songwriter, with favorites like the instrumental “Lazy Interlude” and the rolling, 70s rock sound of “My Name is Fear”.
While the execution might not be perfect (which could be poor recording quality, but it’s up for debate), it by no means brings down the album completely. King’s seemingly private and personal approach to the album gives it an intriguing sound and a mysterious vibe. Nothing about the album seems even the least bit commercialized. There’s no fancy production, and no over-simplistic, ultra dramatic delivery—it’s just bare bones. Hell, even his website is simple and no-frills. He doesn’t have professional advertising, t-shirts, or a Myspace. Call me crazy, but it’s charming and refreshing.
The album gives the impression that Robert Lee King isn’t making music for anyone but himself, and that that’s the way he’d prefer it. Broken Things has the honesty and personality of something found hidden in your uncle’s attic—the personal accomplishments that remained secret but shouldn’t have, like semi-pro sports trophies or unpublished books. It’s clear that King’s put his heart and soul into this album without help of producers or even other band mates. “Alone (Doesn’t Mean Lonely)”, “Hate (Thought Without Wisdom)”, and “The War Wages On”, among others previously mentioned, give a very up-close and personal look at Robert Lee King’s life and what’s most important to him.
As much as it may sound like bullshit, the charm and concept of Broken Things is the most important and drawing thing about the album (although the music’s good too). Pondering Robert Lee King’s perspective and vision is basically imperative to understanding it, and makes it a wholly more enjoyable listen.
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