I'm listening to the Raoul and the Kings of Spain album all the way through for the first time in maybe two years? And I have thoughts.
Here goes:
"Raoul and the Kings of Spain" is a powerful opening song. It always grabs me; Roland's vocals are gorgeous.
"Falling Down" is maybe one of the weaker songs on the album? It's well produced, but by the time I'm a couple of minutes into it, I'm tempted to skip to the next song.
"Secrets" is kinda meh until the 2:30 mark, when the emotion in Roland's voice cranks up, leading to the "time and time againnnnn" moment starting at 2:44, which makes the whole song worth it. But as is the case with some other songs on this album, the last minute feels a little repetitive, as if the song fades into a comfortable jam, instead of ending strong.
"God's Mistake" is well-placed on the album. It brings the energy back up. It's lyrically strong, too. I can tell why this was released as a single.
"Sketches of Pain" my beloved . . . this song gets me right in the heart, every time. It feels intimate. And Roland's vocals feel intimate, too. And oughhh, the lyrics are so good.
"Los Reyes Católicos" is curious to me. It functions a bit like a punctuation mark on the album, I think. A comma in the middle of the sentence, in a way. A moment of pause.
And then "Sorry" hits, with all its indulgent prog rock glory. It's an interesting song, lyrically. Soncially, it's strong too -- though for some reason, it's not a song I listen to often. I think the hook doesn't quite catch my ear.
On the other hand, "Humdrum and Humble" hooks me from the very beginning, at least when I have headphones on, with the way the sound moves from one side to the other and back again. (I'm sure there's a technical name for this, but I don't know it.) There are some great lyrics in this song, as well.
"I Choose You" gets personal again; it feels as if Roland is singing directly to Caroline. I find the lyrics intriguing (and revealing), but I usually skip the song.
"Don't Drink the Water" brings back the prog rock energy. It's an interesting track to me. It feels as if Roland was pushing himself creatively here, soncially. I enjoy it, but again, it's not a song I often think to listen to.
And then the energy comes back down with "Me and My Big Ideas" -- an interesting contrast to ego and energy of the opening song. Here, he's admitting his vulnerability. And once again, he seems to be addressing Caroline.
And in the end, there's the reprise of "Los Reyes Católicos." For some reason, it reminds me a little of "Listen" and how that song functions on SFTBC. Like "Listen," "Los Reyes . . ." doesn't seem intended to stand alone, but it serves the album well.
