The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: King Adora’s Crowning Moment

Another day, another installment of the Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files–because for every No. 1 hit, there are a hundred more songs that didn’t quite reach enough ears.

Artist: King Adora Song: “Smoulder” Album: Vibrate You, 2001 What happened: After releasing a few limited-edition singles and touring around the UK, the glammed-out quartet King Adora was raising eyebrows among Britain’s hype-industrial complex–they snagged a Melody Maker cover and the adoration of Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq. But once Vibrate You was released by Mercury, things began to founder; the album’s first two singles edged their way into the UK charts, but the third was released only online–back in the days before “music blogger buzz” was even a gleam in labels’ eyes. Licking their wounds, King Adora signed with an indie and gigged periodically until they finally broke up in 2004. Why it should have been a hit: “Smoulder” was never released as a single in the UK, but it’s hard not to argue that it should have been–it’s two minutes of grand gestures and eyelinered moxie, backed by larger-than-life drums. Plus, how can you not have at least some affection for a song that tried to coin the word “sexsational”?

King Adora – Smoulder [MP3, link expired] King Adora [MySpace]