BLK JKS
Encyclopedia
BLK JKS are a South African rock
band from Johannesburg
, formed in 2000. Their EP
Mystery has been remastered for a 10 March release in the United States
on the Secretly Canadian
record label.
s online review rated the debut album three-and-a-half out of five stars; the review's author states simply that when BLK JKS does "it their way, they sound like nothing else. Likewise, Pitchfork Media
also found a lot to appreciate in the album calling the project "a hugely ambitious album, with swooping forays into kwaito, ska, reggae, ambience, jazz, prog, and furor." They gave the album a 6.2 rating. But Pitchfork's review was not all positive. The article stated that the band was not living up to the hype created by comparisons to other rock bands, like when a close associate called them the "African TV on the Radio
."
Aside from album reviews, BLK JKS have found success in an array of press mediums. In 2009 Afropop.org, an African music outlet, released a video of the group featuring live performances as well as interviews exploring the unique personalities that make up BLK JKS. The video was well received by other global music outlets and fans alike.
The track, Lakeside, taken from After Robots featured on the soundtrack to the FIFA 10 computer game.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, formed in 2000. Their EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Mystery has been remastered for a 10 March release in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on the Secretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
record label.
Albums
- 2009: After Robots (Secretly CanadianSecretly CanadianSecretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
)http://www.secretlycanadian.com/onesheet.php?cat=SC197
Press
Press has mostly been favorable. Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
s online review rated the debut album three-and-a-half out of five stars; the review's author states simply that when BLK JKS does "it their way, they sound like nothing else. Likewise, Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
also found a lot to appreciate in the album calling the project "a hugely ambitious album, with swooping forays into kwaito, ska, reggae, ambience, jazz, prog, and furor." They gave the album a 6.2 rating. But Pitchfork's review was not all positive. The article stated that the band was not living up to the hype created by comparisons to other rock bands, like when a close associate called them the "African TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....
."
Aside from album reviews, BLK JKS have found success in an array of press mediums. In 2009 Afropop.org, an African music outlet, released a video of the group featuring live performances as well as interviews exploring the unique personalities that make up BLK JKS. The video was well received by other global music outlets and fans alike.
The track, Lakeside, taken from After Robots featured on the soundtrack to the FIFA 10 computer game.
External links
- BLK JKS band site
- BLK JKS on Myspace
- Hear "Lakeside" on NPR
- http://www.culturebase.net/artist.php?4160BLK JKS on culturbase.net