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Kitchens of Distinction
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Kitchens of Distinction were a band from South London, England.
The band formed in 1986, their name pulled from an advert on the side of a lorry spotted by guitarist Julian Swales while on his bike. Kitchens first Bunnymenesque single, recorded in just one day on an eight track in a Kennington basement, earned single of the week in the NME, and the following singles ‘Prize’ and ‘The 3rd Time We Opened The Capsule’, released on One Little Indian Records, earned similar levels of praise.
The band’s big sound belied their size as a threepiece with Patrick Fitzgerald’s impassioned, often personal vocals rising and falling over what sounded like a mass of swirling guitars. While not truly part of the shoegazing scene, guitarist Julian Swales’ dazzling style of playing drew comparisons to The Chameleons, the Cocteau Twins and A R Kane.
Despite a promising the start, and the likelyhood that they would inherit the mantle of bands like The Smiths and Echo and the Bunnymen the band faced a cool reception from the music industry. Even the more indie focused television programmes like SnubTV, and Rapido refused to give them any coverage, although it should be noted that SnubTV played the video for single ‘Drive That Fast’, likewise John Peel refused the band a session for many years. Too melodic perhaps to be truly indie, and too mature to be truly trendy, One Little Indian brought in Pascal Gabriel to put a commercial spin on the lead tracks on last album ‘Cowboys and Aliens’ but radio wasn’t buying.
The band formed in 1986, their name pulled from an advert on the side of a lorry spotted by guitarist Julian Swales while on his bike. Kitchens first Bunnymenesque single, recorded in just one day on an eight track in a Kennington basement, earned single of the week in the NME, and the following singles ‘Prize’ and ‘The 3rd Time We Opened The Capsule’, released on One Little Indian Records, earned similar levels of praise.
The band’s big sound belied their size as a threepiece with Patrick Fitzgerald’s impassioned, often personal vocals rising and falling over what sounded like a mass of swirling guitars. While not truly part of the shoegazing scene, guitarist Julian Swales’ dazzling style of playing drew comparisons to The Chameleons, the Cocteau Twins and A R Kane.
Despite a promising the start, and the likelyhood that they would inherit the mantle of bands like The Smiths and Echo and the Bunnymen the band faced a cool reception from the music industry. Even the more indie focused television programmes like SnubTV, and Rapido refused to give them any coverage, although it should be noted that SnubTV played the video for single ‘Drive That Fast’, likewise John Peel refused the band a session for many years. Too melodic perhaps to be truly indie, and too mature to be truly trendy, One Little Indian brought in Pascal Gabriel to put a commercial spin on the lead tracks on last album ‘Cowboys and Aliens’ but radio wasn’t buying.
Top Albums
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Strange Free World
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Love is Hell
Kitchens of DistinctionBuy- Download Album
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The Death of Cool
Kitchens of DistinctionBuy- Download Album
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Cowboys and Aliens
Kitchens of DistinctionBuy- Download Album
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Shoutbox
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blackdovex wrote:
I only discovered this band a week or so ago. I'm starting to wonder where they have been all my life.
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nekogai555 wrote:
Best band ever.
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redevil1990 wrote:
wavy
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Nochek wrote:
great great great band!
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ShockedOfLight wrote:
Awesome band! Strange Free World is my favorite album!
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thetrogg wrote:
what a good band
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Zoonie wrote:
When I first moved to London, Julian Swales, who knew a friend of mine, very kindly took me to the cinema. Given that I didn't know anyone, that was an *incredibly* sweet thing to do, which I haven't forgotten. Oh, and KOD were of course, utterly marvellous!
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eyesaresmiles wrote:
great live band, first 2 lps are terrific. Dunno why it never really happened for them. Perhaps they just weren't 'cool' enough. Shame.
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vodenapushka wrote:
absolutely amazing!
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moejorris wrote:
anyone have any live recordings? or other unreleased stuff?
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Freelove_ wrote:
Join my group: Post-Punk.
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Nostradumbass03 wrote:
I'm completely shocked by the low number of scrobbles (well under 300,000 as of this date). I guess this great band really was as obscure as I thought they were.
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petercrucial wrote:
Love love love them! :-)
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markyla wrote:
So underated as a band! Duchess of York, Leeds - top gig aye Jamesy lad
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KhaeomZhyu wrote:
"Mad as Snow" has to be the song that has made me cry the most ever, it breaks my heart everytime I listen to it and think of someone I made crazy promises in the crowded streets of NYC, mad as the snow...
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dafyddm wrote:
Wonderful music - great sound and lyrics
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petercrucial wrote:
In my Top 10 bands ever! Love them. :-)
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johnny8ball wrote:
Incredible.
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THee-BeAtNiK wrote:
wonderful tunes. "Prize" is my favorite by far.
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starphazedboy wrote:
"i'll crush my arms around and melt inside of you"
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Recent Activity
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graeme82 and guidedbyvices added Kitchens of Distinction to their libraries. 9 hours ago
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shelivedinatree wrote about The Smiths – Hand in Glove in CDs. yesterday afternoon
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MoscowComrade tagged Kitchens of Distinction with dream pop and shoegaze. yesterday morning
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VonGomez, modifiedbear, illeloz and 2 other people added Kitchens of Distinction to their libraries. Tuesday evening
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mineralboy tagged Kitchens of Distinction with indie pop, neo-psychedelic, post-punk and 2 other tags. Monday evening
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Starfish12, dvronnn, polygut and 18 other people added Kitchens of Distinction to their libraries. Monday afternoon
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BernardoFM created the Portuguese wiki page for Kitchens of Distinction. 12 days ago
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kancerman2 added Kitchens of Distinction to kancerman2’s library. 13 days ago
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amber-mariiie tagged Kitchens of Distinction with ‘shoegaze’. 17 days ago
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seaniskingkong, eastereggs26, skarPD and 8 other people added Kitchens of Distinction to their libraries. 18 days ago
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