That Belgium based K's Choice will (allegedly) release their fifth studio album next year may be a little disconcerting for a few reasons. The band hasn't released anything since 2000's Almost Happy, as its two founding members, siblings Sarah and Gert Bettens, have been quite immersed in their respective solo work. Not only that, but the alternative rock sound that the Belgian quintet made a crutch out of for ten years is more or less a thing of the past, and we all know how successful artists who try to recreate the past are - thank you Mr. Corgan, you make take your seat. But even if the members of K's Choice fall on their collective faces, at least we'll still have their past works to lean back on; particularly their sophomore effort,
Paradise in Me.
Released in '96,
Paradise in Me was K's Choice's international breakthrough. And with a lead single like "Not an Addict", how could they fail to make dent in the rock scene of the mid 1990s? An obvious classic, the track has the build of your typical, laidback alt rock song, harkening back to the likes of The Cranberries' "Zombie" or Sarah McLachlan's "Building a Mystery", though with a different edge. "Not an Addict" is an anguished song documenting the pains of drug (heroin?) abuse. Sarah Bettens especially shines, as her wistful vocals capture the powerful imagery (
It's over now, I'm cold, alone/ I'm just a person on my own) exceptionally well. The rest of K's Choice churns along behind her with, though slightly unspectacular, distorted guitars and driving basslines that fit the song's darker mood.
Unfortunately, the rest of
Paradise in Me doesn't quiet stand up to "Not an Addict". That, however, isn't to say that it isn't enjoyable. Each of the tracks share a very intimate tone, a trait largely owed to Sarah's carefree vocal delivery, but the album manages to retain some semblance of diversity. At times,
Paradise in Me relies on harder outtakes, with the crunchy, post-grunge guitars leading the way in the title track, and a fast-paced, punky sound dominating the brief "Old Woman". "Iron Flower" (which features both of the Benttens on vocals), the most impressive song after "Not an Addict", is built on a tense melodies and the same churning distortion found in the aforementioned "Not an Addict" and "Zombie". On other occasions, K's Choice opts for hazier, more laidback songs. "A Sound That Only You Can Hear" and second single, "Mr. Freeze" fit the bill quite nicely, though some slight hard rock influences manage to sneak their way into the bits of former.
"Wait", "Only Dreaming", and "Song for Catherine" showcase the
Paradise in Me's softer edge, with the band breaking acoustic guitars and some light piano, a formula that sometimes feels as though it treads into the adult-alternative pop world that was quite lively at the time. This formula grows somewhat tiring by time "Dad" rolls around, but it shows a lighter, perhaps more personal side to the band at the very least.
Should K's Choice's upcoming record successfully emulate the kind of song writing that made
Paradise in Me such a successful album, well then they might have something to write home about. If not, well… at least "Not an Addict" never gets old.
