We last featured Ken Woods when he tapped into a more playful and subversive frequency with The Old Blue Gang on the flirtatious single, Oh Denise, so when we heard that Ken Woods and The Electrick Reckoning were back with S.O.S., we were curious to say the least, and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
S.O.S. opens with textured drums and a brooding energy with a pizzicato bass and electric guitar before Ken sings, “Two thousand and eight, we had a great debate, about whether to vote, for hope or for hate, you pledged to restore, the American Dream if we gave you our vote, but just what did that mean?”
Immediately, we are enthralled by the subject matter of the track and Ken’s raw authenticity that comes to life with every breath. In essence, the song is about the very relatable theme of political disappointment and broken promises. It’s about how despite political and cultural promises of change, many of the same problems continue to affect us.
Ken uses the 2008 financial crisis and Barack Obama’s presidency as its main points of reference here. He questions what happened to the hope that was promised and how the decisions made during that period helped shape the political landscape that followed.
The clever repeated hook, “The same old shit…” (references in the title of the track) becomes the a central mantra and the emotional catharsis of the song. It is direct, angry and difficult to ignore. Ken does not hide behind complicated language. Instead, he delivers his criticism with sharp humour, frustration and a sense of personal disappointment.
Musically, The Electrick Reckoning brings a strong combination of funky grooves with choral harmonies and dimensional performances with an evolution of screaming guitars that really bring to life the sentiment of the track.
There is an undeniable cinematic allure to S.O.S. We could imagine the track featuring in a political drama like The Report, Vice or The Big Short, or the Oscar-winning film, One Battle After Another. It could also work in a series like The Wire, Succession or Mr. Robot, tapping into narratives of institutional power and inequality.
We learn that the single serves as an introduction to the forthcoming album American Catastrophe, set to explore the decline and collapse of a society through a broader musical and political lens. Needless to say, S.O.S. (Same Old Shit) is a bold, provocative and energetic release from Ken Woods and The Electrick Reckoning, and we have added the track to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Ken Woods and his various projects.