The K's - 'Pretty On The Internet' Album Review

Sean Friswell
12 minutes ago
3 min read

Tracklist:

Track 1
Track 2
Breakdown In My Bedroom
The Bends (Here We Go Again)
Helen, Oh I
Track 6
Me And Your Sister
Track 8
Track 9
Track 10
Gravestone
Track 12

The K’s release their sophomore album, 'Pretty on the Internet', on the 27th of June produced by Grammy award winning Jim Lowe on LAB Records. Their previous album, 'I Wonder If The World Knows' debuted at number 3 on the UK Album charts which given it was up again Beyonce’s 'Cowboy Carter' and the Libertines 'All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade' was an excellent position.

I was lucky enough to meet some of the band at Kendal Calling last year and while their football skills extended to kicking a ball over a fence and losing it, live they are one of the best bands in the country right now, if you’ve been lucky enough to catch them either in their own right or supporting someone you know just how good they are. They have been touring extensively for a number of years now and the first album was very much a reflection of their live set, full of an almost punk energy while channelling the Jam and an intense indie dance energy.

I did love their first album so was looking forward to listening to this second album with the real hope that the dreaded sophomore curse hadn’t struck.

This album is a sign that the K’s are maturing very nicely thank you very much! There is a growing maturity in both their music and their lyrics.

The indie punk ethos is still there of course but the lyricism has taken a giant leap forward. Dealing with important issues such as metal health in 'Breakdown in My Bedroom' or whether they actually have achieved anything and have left a mark that will see them remembered while developing the self-awareness that they are ignoring the important relationships in front of their faces in a song like 'Gravestone'. The writing on this album is generally more mature, more intimate and more personal.

The other interesting thing though is that they have gotten braver with their musical soundscapes, I know at least one of them is a fan of the Beach Boys and there has been some vocal layering introduced but the willingness to experiment with the sound of their music while remaining true to their roots is the thing I like most about this album.

The best thing though is their embrace of the power of less is more, they have some songs on here that could easily become acoustic fan sing alongs (given the passion of their fanbase that will be great to witness and join in with).

I’ve seen them live a few times now and this album is going to be massive for them, it gives them options to change the tempo and feel of their live shows while giving them even more bangers of songs! I know they would love to break America, this album, together with the back catalogue, sets them up very nicely for that aim. It’s quite simply a joy to listen to.

There are plenty of contenders for title of best young band in the UK right now, but this album surely puts the K’s somewhere at the top of that mix. Two albums in and they are this good? How much better can they get? I can’t wait to find out, but they are clearly maturing, clearly adopting and adapting their sound but maintain the energy and passion that made them stand out in the first place.

Not listened to the K’s yet? Take the opportunity to now, listen to this excellent second album and explore their back catalogue but most importantly go see them when they tour this year. They are one of the best new talents to come out of the UK in a while (and yes, I know they’ve been going for a few years now but they only managed to release their first album last year thanks to covid and are now definitely making up for lost time!).

Best song on the album? Nope, not playing that game, this is a body of work that deserves to be listened to as whole, not dipped in and out of, not just cherry picking the latest YouTube sensation, listen to it all, work out which your own personal favourite is then be prepared to change your mind with each listen.

Contender for album of the year? I really think it is, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it and still am.