I Was a King

iTunes Review

It’s safe to assume the members of Norway’s I Was a King grew up listening to indie rock of the ‘90s. They came all the way to Brooklyn — the heart of indie-land the last few years — to record these songs for their self titled sophomore release, and the pungent scent of bands like Dinosaur Jr., the Wedding Present and Teenage Fanclub is hard not to miss. Borrowing from — or inspired by — the best of a genre, I Was a King ignites these varied styles with incendiary ‘60s psych fireworks (“Still” opens up with a colorful bang, and “Golden Years” recalls L.A.’s “paisley underground”), and occasionally pays homage to American-rooted power-pop (“California,” “It’s All You”). Of course, it’s a bit daring to wear so many influences on one sleeve, but, like deep-fried food, drenching almost anything in a psychedelic wash only improves the flavor, and this collection is a tasty testament to that theory. The band has clearly grown from their 2007 debut, and their partnering with Daniel Smith (Danielson) for album number three promises even more adventure.