King Khan & the Shrines

King Khan & the Shrines

King Khan: the wig-wearing half of the King Khan & BBQ Show, a former Montrealer, and current Berliner. Along with his eightpiece Shrines, he's one of the most promising contemporary welders of genuine psych and soul. Progressing from 2002's Three Hairs and You're Mine, the band, electrified by horns and organ, zaps the 14 songs of What Is?! like James Brown's voodoo child, especially the vintage licks of "69 Faces of Love," "I Wanna Be a Girl," and "Fear & Love." Khan's sly humor ("Gimme something loud and proud!" he demands as horns purposely skronk out dischord) only adds to the bizarro vibe that keeps What Is?! from sounding jokey. Even when "Le Fils de Jacques Dutronc" rips the riff from "You're Gonna Miss Me," the rest of the song rides a wave of sublime Nuggets fuzz.