Genre: Pop Rock
Label Number: BFI0706
© 2014 BFI Records
AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
© 2014 BFI Records
AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Introspection never has been required from Billy Idol
or even desired; he designed his stardom not to bother with such
messiness as recognizable human emotions. Nevertheless, a veteran rocker
with nearly four decades of experience behind him only has so many
cards left to play, so it does makes sense that Idol devoted 2014 to a double-barrel blast of autobiography: a memoir naturally called Dancing with Myself paired with an album called Kings & Queens of the Underground. Confessions are bellowed throughout Kings & Queens but it never feels like they've been pushed to the forefront, not with Trevor Horn's production creating a glassy arena rock cocoon. Horn cannily cherrypicks elements from Billy's
past, reaching something of an apex on "Postcards from the Past," where
the rhythm of "White Wedding" is cleverly spliced with the roar of
"Rebel Yell," but oddly, he also doesn't neglect such lowlights as the
overloaded Cyberpunk, giving Kings & Queens a curiously cacophonous feel that doesn't necessarily jibe with Idol's soul-mining. Then again, Billy
doesn't really throw himself into autobiography here, preferring to
merely write from the perspective of an old punk rocker on the verge of
senior citizenship. Frankly, that's enough to give Kings & Queen of the Underground character if not quite a kick. Idol
may be posturing -- that's what he does for a living, after all -- but
he's relaxed here, certainly more so than he was on 2005's hard-edged Devil's Playground,
having fun playing with his past while trying on some new fashions.
Some of the styles are undeniably tacky but, hey, bad taste is part of Idol's legacy and Kings & Queens of the Underground
touches upon that garishness along with his exaggerated swagger,
fondness for hooks, and an irascible snarl, and that makes it an
autobiography even if it never tells a story.
tags: billy idol, kings and queens of the underground, 2014, flac,
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