I know I shit on people all the freaking time for this but I'm seriously sick of sell out talk so I'm throwing my opinion up here on that. Plus maybe some other shit I been thinking. Deal with it fuckers.
So the idea is that you are a couple 20 year old dudes rocking shit gear in a shit basement. The tunes that come out are fucking well done. Rehashed blues but so nicely done. And with a soul/blues voice like Dan? How could any self proclaimed blues fan resist? the shit is nice. Its modern blues without straying very far from the masters formulas at all.
We later in the bands careers start to hear and see some more of their influences. Hip Hop artists (blakroc)for one and all kinds of other genres not near the blues.
Then they make Brothers. A fucking killer album. No one can argue that its not musically brilliant and the production is fucking killer as the majority would agree here.
Tighten up was a single. We can hear that for sure. Doesn't mean its bad. I personally reckon its my most listened to track from brothers.
Shit blows up. These 2 white cats from nowhere are hauling ass. Big bucks big awards big TV show slots. All the way up.
Did they sell out to make that album? No.
Did they have selling out in mind when they made this album? I doubt it.
As a songwriter myself I can't fathom the idea of writing a song that is instantly popular and mainstream. I don't understand how it could be done? Theres got to be some heart in everything you do.
Think about your day job. If you do a task for them money you do a half assed job right? But if that job happens to be for a friend of yours that booked in through the company, you give it that little bit more. The niceness. The extra work.
So how can you say the album is good but its still aimed at mainstream music lovers?
You can't bend for the money. Its not worth it. You find your own heartstrings pull you to where you need to be.
To write and perform (In my limited experience) is one of the most honest things someone can do. Its like opening your mind and heart up and saying "here have a look inside will ya?!"
Its not about the money. That shit is a damn nice added bonus in life.
This album is brilliant. I've been listening to it over and over and it is solid. Falters only a few times and even then not very badly.
I hear talk of people being up Dan and Pats asses. I hear talk of people shitting on both of them either for their playing or attitude.
I personally couldn't give a fuck what Dan and Pat are like in real life. The best opinion I can give from interviews is that they are 2 guys who love their music. Love their lives because of it and fair enough so. They are smart asses a lot of the time and make some unfair calls in that way which I don't agree with. Sometimes they are honest too.
I didn't like when Dan answered a question about the progression of the album and specifically said he would like to answer as Chris Martin from Coldplay. He then proceeded to mock the fact that Chris Martin puts so much of himself into his music.
That to me is not a fair call at all. So he looks at it differently to you Dan? Whats your point? You've got no right to call out another artist just cause you're a smart ass! That to me comes across as having your head planted very squarely up your own ass.
So in all of that I want to know exactly what you think it means to sell out? Cause at the end of the day we have no idea how much pressure was on from the recording company? we have no idea of Dan and Pats thought process whilst making the album. Their intentions, their motives their ideals.
All we have is the music. At the end of it all. Thats all we've got.
I love this album and it is very quickly running its way to the top of the pile.
I'll reiterate my quote of Duke Ellington here
"If it sounds good. It is good."
Some of you will hate this but I quite like all of KoL's stuff. There later stuff is more mellow flatter and somewhat smoother than the early stuff. But there is still some damned interesting things going on in there. Its not heart stopping or cardiac arrest worthy but its still pretty good.
So should I sit here all day and think that because TBK are getting more cash and more mainstream that they are pandering to that? How do I know what they want to do with their music?
Mainstream doesn't mean they are selling out. It means more people are getting it. But should we hate on them because they don't know TBCU? Hell no! Who cares!? They can like whatever they want to like! I like all TBK albums cause I have a fairly wide ranging music taste! Good for me huh?
"If it sounds good. It is good." It is that simple.
Who cares what hype surrounds the album. Who cares what label they are signed too. Who cares if your friends that used to hate on you for listening to rubber factory over and over like this album and not that one. Who cares how much money they make? Who cares how many albums they sell? Who cares how many stupid dress up competitions they hold?
I just want to hear the music that these 2 guys make. And I like this album. As a TBK album an as an album in its own right.
All conceptions of "your band" a "blues band" all that crap doesn't matter.
You've got 11 songs. Do you like them? Or do you not? Listen with your heart your head and most of all in that foot that taps without you even realising it.
Just bring it home and sit with it. Forget what the world thinks. Forget the notion of superiority that comes with knowing a band that no one else gets.
Just enjoy it. Music is art and art is from the heart. Don't cover it in crap.
Essay fuckers!
Thats my warble. Now get tired eyes reading that shit up. And I want to know what you all think of this too! 
Thankya sir. I just had to rant 
I can totally hear "Sister" as one. Let's all hope THAT never ever happens 