Brothers Dylan, Daniel, Jesse and Johnny Kongos are hoping to finally crack the international market. This debut has technically been available for years, released in their native South Africa in 2011, but is only just starting to make an impact elsewhere. The Arizona-based band rope together a variety of genres loosely grouped under an alt-rock label, no doubt influenced by their musician father, John Kongos. The results vary considerably. Kongos may not have set out to reinvent the alt‑rock wheel, sounding like a cross between Queens of the Stone Age, Guillemots and 22-20s, but they play with passion. Come With Me Now hollers its way over a brash guitar refrain, while Kids These Days and Hey, I Don’t Know show promise. Kongos play it safe, and their forays into reggae and acoustic‑guitar balladry are hardly original. Given their recent deal with Epic Records, and sudden storm up Billboard’s alternative chart in March, though, this album could just be enough for their big break.
