What initially attracted us to Minneapolis 4-piece Kwang were the trash n' roll-delights of 'Disassociation' and 'She's Sophisticated' - the latter's chorus of 'She's so phisticated / I'm so fucking dumb' being a particular work of genius.
Further investigation reveals there is more than meets the kornea. There are plenty of KISS influences, notably on the anthemic-but-stumbling 'It Comes, It Goes.' and 'This Time', which marries primitive Ace Frehley vocals with Cheap Trick commerciality. But it's on twisted, jarring ballads such as 'Wrecking Ball' and 'Sad Letters' where the band comes into their own.
Despite it's brief length (30 minutes), For What It's Worth is packed with unexpected delights. The only disappointment is that 'Rock and Roll! Baseball! Big Tornadoes!' doesn't quite live up to the promise of it's title.
Rating: 7/10
Classic Rock Magazine
The harsh guitars of glam rock on For What It's Worth remind me of the days when radios blared Aerosmith and Guns N' Roses like they were going out of style (which they were). Fortunately for fans still holding on to their favorite acid-washed jeans, Kwang are keeping razor-sharp rock 'n' roll alive.
For What It's Worth is Kwang's latest release, and their second full-length. The local group's influences are obvious—KISS, Cheap Trick, Mötley Crüe, and Van Halen, all of which seem to have been melded together and cast into a local mold on this disc. Their Minnesota pride hits home with the track "Rock and Roll! Baseball! Big Tornados!," a little shout-out to all things great in the neighborhood. The whiny-man voice and motivated beat make it a perfect mix-tape track, best for blasting out the windows of a white van.
In their press materials, Kwang promise "real" rock, which, in their case, seems to mean '70s rock. The tracks here flex between punk-inspired bangers to slow, emotional downers like "Sad Letters."
Their album is lined with relentless guitar mauling and vocals old Mr. Johnston downstairs (or next door, or two-houses-down, for that matter), won't appreciate. This band will rock you till your ears bleed—it's up to you to determine whether you find that enjoyable.
Thanks to its fat glam-rock licks and carefree sense of humor, Kwang's For What It's Worth has become one of my most-played local discs of the year. It's the perfect soundtrack for a long drive with the windows down and the volume up.
Ross Raihala - St. Paul Pioneer Press
Request Kwang on 89.3 The Current in the Twin Cities!
this coming thursday, october 13th - COLD COLOURS opens for the legendary ICED EARTH at STATION 4 in st. paul. joining the bill are EARLY MAN and our best buds in CWN ANNWN. we play first at about 5:30 so get there early!
thursday october 13th ICED EARTH EARLY MAN CWN ANNWN COLD COLOURS @station 4 4th and sibley - st paul, mn ALL AGES SHOW!!! doors at 5pm tix at station 4, discland (bloomington) and ticketmaster
this will be our last show for a long time as we are in search of a drummer. if you or anyone you know is interested in filling the vacant drum throne - please contact us at coldcolours@yahoo.com or through our myspace!
SHIT SANDWICH (Spinal Tap) IF YOU WANT BLOOD (Bon Scott era AC/DC) (Members of 20 Dollar Love) WE WHO CANNOT BE NAMED (The Dwarves) (Members of the Quincy Punx) SIRENS OF TITAN (Soundgarden) WE AREN'T THE LEAGUE (Anti-Nowhere League) (Members of Impaler, Hostages, and Iron Fist) POWER OF 2 w/ MARGRET LANE (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
21+ | 8:00 PM | $8.00 $6 with a costume! This night is always amazingly fun! As always we will have a costume contest with various categories and various prizes. If you miss this you are not the brightest pope in the woodshed!
Lots of great bands have come through Signaturetone recently, and we've helped unleash some spectacular new records from a bunch of genres. Check these artists out and support local music!
Let us give you the record you've always wanted but thought you wouldn't be able to get without mortgaging your home (again). Indie rock to alt country to extreme grind to free jazz, we've got the tape and tubes all warmed up for you.
This Friday - August 29th! Pay tribute to the one and only EARL ROOT!!!! THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL MEMORIAL METAL MASSACRE First Avenue and 7th St Entry Doors at 4:30pm
Hey Kwang! I keep bringing my cd case to my car, but I can't get myself to take "For What It's Worth" out of my car stereo. I walk around work and home singing the songs. I particularly can't get "She's Sophisticated" or "Sad Letters" out of my head. I'm addicted. Aaron/XRH
