Beat happy, scratch drenched and rap delivered positivity for the masses, "Citizen King" have one of the most accessible sounds to come along since the whole (sic) swing revival. This band does a smooth blend of hip-hop/pop stylings and club sensible beats, all with street-wise delivery coated with this tangible sense of...ease. Most every song here has a danceable beat with tons of scratches, samples and keyboards supplying a never-ending array of backing noises and voices, all laid on top of (almost sickeningly) catchy songs that would hold their own by themselves without the added fluf (but it's fun fluff). The production value of "Mobile Estates" is noteworthy. Each song is treated to it's own set of vocal settings, along with varying electronic/turntable elements, making this at least a sonically fulfilling album. There are offerings that show a more traditional song format, like the indie-strummed and break-beat backed "Safety Pin," but, alas, we get kazoo solo's just to make sure it's not too normal. Then there's the drifty slow, mostly wood blocked and guitar strummed lazy "Closed For The weekend," making this the Sunday afternoon drive number.

Singer/bassist Matt Sims is very capable of running the gamut between street rapper and light voiced crooner and has a very intelligible and fluid delivery. As a rapper, he shows the rare ability of being able to rap in a pop structure, repeating occasional lines to break up the 4/4 timed rap style of executing lyrics. Little nods to bands like Beastie Boys and Beck are unavoidable.

The single getting the most airplay currently, "Better Days," has one of those sing-a-long chorus catches that the radio just loves to play into your brain until you absolutely loathe the song, but most songs here are a little more meaty and less bubblegum. The musicianship allows "Citizen King" to transcend a typical rap band, even though that influence is displayed heavily. All members of CK (which you know will only be a matter of time before they put out T-shirts that rip on the Calvin Klein logo) contribute to the amalgam of sounds that creates this "indie-rap" (just made that one up).

There's a certain method to the "Citizen King" approach which will become apparent throughout the disk, but much effort is taken to break up songs, mostly accomplished with the grocery-list of keyboard and turn-table elements. Critics and fans of this approach shouldn't have any trouble respecting this. The radio should friggin' love this band, as "Mobile Estates" has more than a couple of numbers heading it's way.