Enter the Kingdom

Last updated
Enter the Kingdom
Frontier Ruckus, Enter the Kingdom album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Frontier Ruckus
ReleasedFebruary 17, 2017
Genre Folk rock, Indie pop
Language English
Label Sitcom Universe, Loose Music (Europe)
Frontier Ruckus chronology
Sitcom Afterlife
(2014)		Enter the Kingdom
(2017)		 On the Northline
(2024)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Aesthetica (favorable) [1]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
American Songwriter Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Daily Express Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
GlideStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Morning Star Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
NARC Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [8]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Vice (Robert Christgau) Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [10]

Enter the Kingdom is the fifth full-length studio album by Frontier Ruckus. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with former Wilco and Uncle Tupelo drummer Ken Coomer, it marked the first Frontier Ruckus album produced outside of the band's home state of Michigan. Rolling Stone announced the album in late 2016 and premiered a music video for the debut single "27 Dollars." [11]

Contents

Reception

With a more deliberate and polished production, Enter the Kingdom was met by a critical response ranging from laudatory to mixed. Thematically, the record was described in an interview with the Detroit Free Press as addressing economic hardship in songwriter Matthew Milia's immediate family and the disillusionment of childhood. [12] These heavy lyrical elements were juxtaposed with frequent power pop song structures and the lush string arrangements of Zachary Nichols. British art magazine Aesthetica saw the album as "a swaying invitation into the suburban American household, offering a dreamy glance back into a past forgotten life." [13] Much notice was given to the precision of Milia's rhyme schemes, with legendary rock critic Robert Christgau commenting, "Somebody marry this winsome sad sack, whose increasingly plausible rhymes now include open-ibuprofen, gauche-precocious-neurosis, salad on the tennis court-valid passport, speckled melanin-freckled up your skin, and the very sexy errands-gerunds." [14] Mojo went on to say, "Well-educated, literary-inclined American songwriters are hardly thin on the ground, but Frontier Ruckus' Matthew Milia's poetic inclination always sets him apart.” [15]

Paste released the upbeat single "Positively Freaking," showcasing the understated and melodic accompaniment of founding banjoist David Jones. [16] Some fans of the rawer, more unhinged Americana from the band's earlier albums expressed disappointment in the new direction—including Uncut, who had championed the band's 2013 double-album Eternity of Dimming . [17] Contrarily, AllMusic commended Ken Coomer's production and commented, "There's a warmth and personality in these performances that's honest and winning...and if this batch of songs sounds a bit more artful than much of Frontier Ruckus' back catalog, "If You Can" is beautiful and striking in its simplicity, with just a guitar, Milia's voice, and the sound of rainfall bringing an evocative depth to the tune." They went on to call Frontier Ruckus one of the best things to come out of Michigan since Faygo Redpop. [18]

Vocalist Anna Burch joined Milia for an interview with NPR's Michigan Radio detailing her signature role in the band's sound since their debut album. A video for "Our Flowers Are Still Burning" featured Burch prominently, waking in the morning following the aftermath of a party. [19] [20] For the subsequent European and American release tours in support of Enter the Kingdom, Burch had officially returned to being the band's permanent bass player as well.

In July 2017, Milia spoke with Billboard about taking time off from touring to work on a new Frontier Ruckus album, his upcoming solo album, and the music video for "Enter the Kingdom", which premiered on their site. [21]

Track listing

All songs written by Matthew Milia, except "Since Milford" by Zachary Nichols

  1. "Visit Me"
  2. "Gerunds"
  3. "27 Dollars"
  4. "Our Flowers Are Still Burning"
  5. "Positively Freaking"
  6. "Sarah Springtime"
  7. "Since Milford"
  8. "Gauche"
  9. "Nothing Is Working"
  10. "If You Can"
  11. "Enter the Kingdom"

Personnel

Frontier Ruckus

Guest musicians

Production

Related Research Articles

<i>Forever Changes</i> 1967 studio album by Love

Forever Changes is the third studio album by the American rock band Love, released on November 1, 1967, by Elektra Records. The album saw the group embrace a subtler folk- and baroque pop-oriented sound based around acoustic guitars and orchestral arrangements, while primary songwriter Arthur Lee explored darker themes alluding to mortality and his growing disillusionment with the era's counterculture. It was the final album recorded by the original band lineup; after its completion, guitarist Bryan MacLean left the group acrimoniously, and Lee subsequently dismissed the other members.

<i>A.M.</i> (Wilco album) 1995 studio album by Wilco

A.M. is the debut studio album by the American rock band Wilco, released on March 28, 1995, by Sire Records and Reprise Records. The album was released only months after the breakup of Uncle Tupelo, an alternative country band that was the predecessor of Wilco. Prior to its release, there was debate about whether the album would be better than the debut album of Son Volt, the new band of former Uncle Tupelo lead singer Jay Farrar.

<i>Nixon</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Lambchop

Nixon is the fifth studio album by American rock band Lambchop. It was released on February 7, 2000, and was issued by Merge Records and City Slang.

Ken Coomer is an American musician and producer best known for his drumming in Uncle Tupelo and later Wilco. He was the drummer and co-founder of the Nashville-based band, Clockhammer, in the late 1980s/early 1990s.

<i>Medicine Show</i> (album) 1984 studio album by The Dream Syndicate

Medicine Show is the second studio album by The Dream Syndicate. It was released in 1984.

<i>Lolita Nation</i> 1987 studio album by Game Theory

Lolita Nation is the fourth full-length album by Game Theory, a California power pop band fronted by guitarist and singer-songwriter Scott Miller. Originally released in 1987 as a double LP, the album was reissued by Omnivore Recordings in February 2016 as a double CD set with 21 bonus tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frontier Ruckus</span>

Frontier Ruckus is an American band from Michigan. The project is centered on the lyrically intensive songs of Matthew Milia, and was formed by Milia and banjo player David Winston Jones while growing up in Metro Detroit. In 2008, the band released its debut full-length record, The Orion Songbook. Though formed in a folk tradition, Frontier Ruckus has shown an eclecticism across their catalog, incorporating aspects of baroque and jangle pop, alt-country, bluegrass, and lo-fi.

<i>The Orion Songbook</i> 2008 studio album by Frontier Ruckus

The Orion Songbook is the debut album by Frontier Ruckus, released on November 6, 2008.

<i>Go-Go Boots</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Drive-By Truckers

Go-Go Boots is the ninth studio album by American rock band Drive-By Truckers, first released February 14, 2011, on Play It Again Sam Records. It was produced by record producer David Barbe and recorded during 2009 to 2010, concurrently with sessions for the band's previous album The Big To-Do (2010). Upon its release, Go-Go Boots received positive reviews from most music critics.

<i>Demolished Thoughts</i> 2011 studio album by Thurston Moore

Demolished Thoughts is the third solo studio album by American musician Thurston Moore. Mojo placed the album at number 18 on its list of "Top 50 albums of 2011" while Uncut placed the album at number 23.

<i>Eternity of Dimming</i> 2013 studio album by Frontier Ruckus

Eternity of Dimming is the third full-length studio album by Frontier Ruckus. A double album of 20 songs, the record is nearly an hour and a half in duration. The album's lyrical text is also unusually prolific, containing approximately 5,600 words. Despite the dense and hardly immediate nature of the record, Eternity of Dimming received mostly favorable reviews—eliciting reactions of both hyperbolic praise and occasional vexation. Thematically, the record details childhood and adolescent memory within the suburban landscape of Metro Detroit.

<i>Deadmalls and Nightfalls</i> 2010 studio album by Frontier Ruckus

Deadmalls and Nightfalls is the second full-length studio album by Frontier Ruckus, released on July 20, 2010 by Ramseur Records.

<i>Most Messed Up</i> 2014 studio album by Old 97s

Most Messed Up is the tenth studio album by American country/rock band Old 97's, first released on April 29, 2014.

<i>Sitcom Afterlife</i> 2014 studio album by Frontier Ruckus

Sitcom Afterlife is the fourth full-length studio album by Frontier Ruckus. Strongly embracing elements of classic power pop, the record marked a stylistic shift for the band while still retaining a folk rock undercurrent. The album marked the return of harmony vocalist Anna Burch, and indefinite departure of founding drummer Ryan Etzcorn. Sitcom Afterlife is considered to be the result of a romantic breakup experienced by songwriter Matthew Milia, to which AllMusic commented: "[Milia's] not having much luck with relationships, which may be bad news for him but has certainly given him plenty of inspiration."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Milia</span> Musical artist

Matthew Milia is an American songwriter, musician, poet, and visual artist. He is best known as the leader of the band Frontier Ruckus.

<i>Native Sons</i> (The Long Ryders album) 1984 studio album by the Long Ryders

Native Sons is the debut album by American band the Long Ryders, released in October 1984 by record label Frontier. The album and the single "I Had a Dream" reached number 1 and 4 on the UK Indie Chart, respectively. Musically, the album fuses 1960s style garage rock and folk rock with country rock. Rolling Stone's David Fricke described Native Sons as an album "where Nashville, ’77 London and the mid-Sixties Sunset Strip converge in songs of pioneer aspiration and outlaw bonding." Native Sons features former Byrds member Gene Clark guesting on the track "Ivory Tower".

<i>Whiteout Conditions</i> 2017 studio album by The New Pornographers

Whiteout Conditions is the seventh studio album by Canadian indie rock band The New Pornographers. It was released on April 7, 2017, and is the first album not to feature either longtime drummer Kurt Dahle or singer-songwriter Dan Bejar.

<i>This (Is What I Wanted to Tell You)</i> 2019 studio album by Lambchop

This (Is What I Wanted to Tell You) is the thirteenth studio album by American band Lambchop, released on March 22, 2019. The album appeared 50th on the Mojo magazine's albums of the year list.

<i>Alone at St. Hugo</i> 2019 studio album by Matthew Milia

Alone at St. Hugo is the debut solo studio album by Matthew Milia. It was released on May 3, 2019. Recorded on a Tascam 388 reel-to-reel tape recorder, the entire album was performed by Milia and engineer Ben Collins. In an interview with Metro Times, Milia described the set of highly melodic power pop songs that constitute the album as a result of shirking music industry expectations and remaining prolific as a writer for purer reasons, saying, "It's the writing part that I still wake up every day and want to do."

<i>On the Northline</i> 2024 studio album by Frontier Ruckus

On the Northline is the sixth full-length studio album by Frontier Ruckus. It was the band's first major output since 2017, ending a seven-year recording hiatus.

References

  1. ↑ "Aesthetica Review". Aesthetica. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  2. ↑ Mark Deming (2017-02-17). "AllMusic Review by Mark Deming". AllMusic . Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  3. ↑ Horowitz, Hal (2017-02-16). "American Songwriter Review". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  4. ↑ "Scottish Daily Express Review". Daily Express. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  5. ↑ Zimmerman, Lee (2017-02-21). "Frontier Ruckus Offer Sweet Melodic Nuggets on Enter the Kingdom (Album Review)". Glide Magazine. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  6. ↑ "Mojo Review". Mojo. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  7. ↑ "Morning Star Review". Morning Star. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  8. ↑ Fisher, Lee (2017-02-14). "NARC Review". NARC Magazine. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  9. ↑ Hughes, Rob. "Uncut Review". Uncut. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  10. ↑ Robert Christgau (2017-03-17). "Punk Miracles: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau". Noisey . Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  11. ↑ Chris Parton (2016-12-14). "See Frontier Ruckus' Detroit Rooftop Video for '27 Dollars'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  12. ↑ Milo, Jeff. "Frontier Ruckus celebrating album No. 5". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  13. ↑ "Aesthetica Review". Aesthetica. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  14. ↑ Christgau, Robert (2017-03-17). "Punk Miracles: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau". Noisey. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  15. ↑ "Mojo Review". Mojo. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  16. ↑ Flamming, E.C. (2017-02-01). "Exclusive: Listen to Frontier Ruckus' New Single "Positively Freaking"". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  17. ↑ Hughes, Rob. "Uncut Review". Uncut. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  18. ↑ Mark Deming (2017-02-17). "AllMusic Review by Mark Deming". AllMusic . Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  19. ↑ Mercedes Mejia (2017-02-17). "Frontier Ruckus brings back harmony with new album, "Enter the Kingdom"". Michigan Radio . Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  20. ↑ Sammy Maine. "Frontier Ruckus "Our Flowers Are Still Burning"". Gold Flake Paint. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  21. ↑ Graff, Gary (August 1, 2017). "Folk Band Frontier Ruckus Share the Heartwarming Video for 'Enter the Kingdom': Exclusive". Billboard . Retrieved August 3, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.