You must own Kitchens of Distinction's third album, The Death of Cool. Released in 1992, the album is a classic. It's one of the most beautiful, intense, and wonderfully blissed-out records to come from that era, and it has yet to sound dated. From the opening salvo of "What Happens Now?" and "Four Men" to the sad saxophone-laced closer "Can't Trust the Waves," The Death of Cool will take you through many an emotional journey of love, loss, and hope. Drenched in heavy layers of guitars, with many songs running over the five minute mark, it's the most epic pop music you'll ever hear. (It's not rock music, by any means.)
If you missed them the first time around, Capsule really hits the highlights of their neglected yet illustrious career. It's an evenly-balanced collections, with three tracks from their debut, Love Is Hell, four songs each from 1991's much-better Strange Free World and the seminal The Death of Cool, and five from their final album, Cowboys & Aliens. While they never had what you would call a major "hit," they did have some really wonderful singles, such as "Drive that Fast," "When In Heaven," "Quick As Rainbows," and "Prize"--all of which still sound wonderful ten years on. Of course, a fan might quibble about the song collection (where's "Breathing Fear"?), you have to realize there's only seventy-nine minutes on a CD, and Capsule is filled to the brim.
What's most surprising about the collection is that the songs from Cowboys & Aliens have improved with age. At the time, I was a bit disappointed with it; as it came on the heels of one of the best records of the decade, perhaps it's not too surprising that the follow-up wasn't as warmly received. I've met people who swear this is better than Death of Cool, but I chose not to believe them. I stand by my belief that it's not their best work, but listening to "Now's The Time to Say Goodbye," "Sand on Fire" and "Remember Me?" again, I don't think it's quite as bad as I originally thought. At the time, I felt like the production seemed flat; they didn't work with Hugh Jones, which seemed to make a big difference, but listening to those tracks now, I think that maybe I was being a little bit unfair in dismissing the record. Sorry about that, guys.
While the regular edition of Capsule offers no unreleased nuggets, one really, truly must seek out one of the inital pressings, for they offer up an entire album 's worth of B-sides, remixes, demos, and live tracks. It's a most excellent collection, and that it's only a limited-edition goodie really is a shame, because this disc really highlights Kitchens Of Distinction's depth. From jazzy instrumental B-sides "Skin" and "Airshifting," to the utterly angry, passionate "Mainly Mornings" (Fitzgerald is screaming in pain)--the only time they falter is with a dull remix of The Death of Cool's "Four Men." While it's not a definitive B-sides collection (there's nothing from their final single, "Feel My Genie," and there's a live version of "Mad As Snow" from a Glastonbury 1992 compilation), it's still a wonderful addition for those fans who might not find anything new on the first album. (Maybe One Little Indian will release a more comprehensive rarities set someday?)
Kitchens of Distinction really was one of the great bands. If you cannot afford this collection, I'd suggest that you go down to your local record store and search through the bargain bins; you should be able to find them there, but I'll tell you right now that Capsule is really worth the money you'll spend on it, especially if you get the two-disk version. While some writers may compare them to Interpol, I highly recommend you check out the real thing. An essential, important listen.
--Joseph Kyle
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