Cargo Records

Royal Lunch

...A pared-down King Missile III (John S. Hall, Sasha Forte and Bradford Reed) mixing up jams from outer space with unique lyrics and spoken word piecesa template the band has spent the last two decades building their legend on." Rolling Stone

What is left to say that John S. Hall and King Missile haven't already said? Everything! The notoriously outspoken and eloquently sardonic John S. Hall is back with the third incarnation of King Missile and this time his unrelenting lyrical avant-poetry/spoken-wordism is angry, irreverently subversive and politically charged. Though not the only topic on the album, Hall has taken aim at the Bush administration and Royal Lunch is a direct shot at the heart of the monster. Royal Lunch has the feel of an America on the brink of disaster, the exact climate the album was written in, and as always, John S. Hall channels the socio-political climate of the globe, mixing in his slanted wit, creating a brilliantly acrimonious masterwork.Though politics could be called Royal Lunch's main obsession, other topics are dutifully discussed by post-beat NYC poet/lead singer John S. Hall. Topics such as the soothing bore of meditation, the sadness and terror of "joy," god, women, avocados, cake, kittens, babies, anti-matter and water beds full of Callista Flockhart's urine are all discussed with equal passion, eloquence and wit. Royal Lunch is as overtly political as it is slanted, sarcastic, sardonic and belligerent. All the elements of classic King Missile.
Unlike many bands, King Missile's socio-political rants, their evolving lineup and John S. Hall's dry, witty literate lyrics have kept them modern and from fading into obscurity. Both lyrically and musically relevant, King Missile hasn't necessarily fallen behind or kept ahead, instead they've built their own house and Royal Lunch may be the finest addition yet. Royal Lunch's musical arrangement is as fascinating as John S. Hall's post-beat lyrical approach is engaging.

On Royal Lunch Sasha Forte, King Missile's multi-instrumentalist, takes up bass, violin, guitar and keyboards while the eccentric percussionist Bradord Reed plays a drum set paired with The Amazing Pencillina, a percussive stringed instrument of his own design. Guest musicians include King Missile regulars Jane Scarpantoni, who has played with Lou Reed, David Byrne, Norah Jones and Blonde Redhead, on cello and Jack Spratt on guitar.
Call this protest rock. Call it spoken word. Call it well harnessed insanity. Call it sardonic for sure. Call it whatever you want, just don't forget to call it King Missile III.