The eponymous final release by the second version of
King Missile features the same witty and hilarious
John S. Hall lyrical and spoken word moments alongside the lackluster pop filler that padded out their previous five albums. Two highlights include "Love Is ...," the "Detachable Penis" of this album, and "Socks," an over-the-top parody of grunge, with
Hall screaming, "Why do I have so many socks?" as if all of his cathartic rage hinged upon this conundrum. The most convincing genre exercises on the album are grunge-inflected "Lies" and the throwaway jingles "The Commercial" and "Happy Note." Misfires include "Delores" and "The Dishwasher," which are both performed with an artsy lack of conviction. In the end,
King Missile proves to be a tuneful, yet hardly earth-shattering affair. ~ Brian Flota