That interview contains a lot of flowery explanations from each member (particularly Thorpe/Fleming, I guess) about how this break up is a natural progression, that they always pushed themselves, that they’re excited for the future…
In reality, Boy King bombed critically…sold well but drove crowds away…and they lost enthusiasm. The first signs of this probably came around Present Tense…when they talked about not wanting to keep going down the album/tour/album/tour cycle of a band.
For the record…Boy King is certainly not the my worst album of 2010s on it’s own merit…but in terms of what it meant for one of the best bands in the U.K…it’s my most hated.
Reckon I’d have Smother at no.1. I go back to it way more than Two Dancers. I liked both Present Tense and Boy King when they came out, but I’ve barely revisited either.
Always sad when a well-liked band calls it quits, I think. And kind of a shame that you get the sense they all looked at each other, just cresting their thirties, and thought ‘if we don’t do something else now, we’ll never be able to.’
Essentially that music’s not a solid livelihood when you’re that good at it, I guess.
I agree. It was a total U-turn on what I wanted. I know it’s not about me, but the personal relationship with a band can be a very one way street, for better or worse. I understand people liking albums that I don’t. I also understand that bands will like albums I don’t - that the beauty of it.