Before even hitting play on Kingdom of Mustang, the name alone caught my attention—it’s got that rare combination of mystery and coolness that sticks with you. It doesn’t need to make complete sense to resonate; it just sounds right.
Their latest release, Glad Days, is a love letter to the golden age of music, a nostalgic nod to the transformative era of the late ’60s. Though it’s subjective, many would agree that something magical was in the air back then. Clocking in at a brisk forty-five minutes, the album’s fourteen tracks might seem hefty by today’s standards, but Kingdom of Mustang knows how to keep things tight.
Each song is lean and polished, with no filler to be found, making them all feel like potential singles. One of the album’s standout qualities is its seamless flow, creating a cohesive listening experience that feels like a well-curated setlist. While I always advocate for listening to an album in its entirety, as the artist intended, certain tracks beg to be featured on individual playlists.
Favorites like “Say Hey to Blue,” “And Then the King of Hearts,” and “The Best Thing” highlight the band’s talent for crafting songs that sound unmistakably like a band. In an era where that quality is becoming increasingly rare, Kingdom of Mustang’s Glad Days is a refreshing reminder of what makes a band truly great.