Over the course of their career, the band has released five studio albums - "Love is Hell" (1989), "Strange Free World" (1991), "The Death of Cool" (1992), "Cowboys and Aliens" (1994), and "Folly" (2013).
Dan Goodwin (drums) met Julian Swales (guitar) at college in 1980, and Swales met Patrick Fitzgerald (vocals/bass guitar) at a party in 1985.The trio began rehearsing together that same year, taking their name from a company of the same name that specialised in home decor and kitchen and plumbing fixtures after Swales spotted one of their advertisements on the side of a bus while riding his bike. The Kitchens' first single, "The Last Gasp Death Shuffle" (which featured Swales on lead vocals and bass, as well as guitar) was recorded in just one day on an eight-track in a Kennington basement, and was released in December 1987 on the band's own Gold Rush Records. It was named a single of the week in the NME, and led to the band signing with the British indie label One Little Indian Records; it was around this time that Fitzgerald, a medical doctor, put his career on hold to devote himself fully to the band. Their first singles for One Little Indian, 1988's "Prize" and 1989's "The 3rd Time We Opened the Capsule", made it onto the "NME Writers' 100 Best Indie Singles Ever" list, published 25 July 1992.
Their first full-length album, Love Is Hell, was released in April 1989. Fitzgerald's impassioned, wordy, often bluntly personal vocals careened over what sounded like a mass of swirling guitars, though the band only had one guitarist. Swales' chiming, effects-laden style of playing drew him comparisons to the guitarists of The Chameleons, Cocteau Twins, and A.R. Kane. KOD's melodic yet abstract sound was a precursor to the shoegazing scene of the late 1980s/early 1990s.
Despite the promising start, the band faced a subdued reception from the mainstream music industry, generally due to their lyrical content. For instance, "Margaret's Injection", on the 1989 Elephantine EP, was a fantasy about killing then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Also, Fitzgerald was openly gay, and his lyrics were unapologetic, especially on tracks like "Prize" and "Within the Daze of Passion". Even the more indie-focused television programs like Snub TV and Rapido failed to give them much coverage, although Snub TV played the video for their 1991 single "Drive That Fast". Likewise, they were not offered a John Peel radio session, although they eventually did get one after asking Peel personally, following a Glastonbury performance which he appreciated.
Kitchens of Distinction sometimes performed "secret" gigs under the alter ego Toilets of Destruction.[2][6] An example was at The Bull & Gate in Kentish Town on 6 August 1990, where the band appeared in drag and played ABBA, David Bowie, and Bauhaus covers.
In 1990, they signed with A&M Records in the US, and went into the studio with producer Hugh Jones (Simple Minds, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Undertones). Their second album, Strange Free World, was released in February 1991, and spawned some moderately successful singles in "Drive That Fast" and "Quick as Rainbows", both of which were very well received by college radio in the US. The band went back into the studio in 1992, again with Jones at the helm, and their third album The Death of Cool came out in August that year; it was named in honour of the passing of Miles Davis, who had released an influential album titled The Birth of the Cool in 1950. A&M balked at the band's choice of "Breathing Fear" for the first single, due to its touchy subject matter (gay bashing), so "Smiling" became the album's initial single in the US. The band toured extensively, including a high-profile slot opening for their US labelmate Suzanne Vega, whose album 99.9F° came out within a few weeks of theirs.
Later in 1993, KOD began work on their fourth album, co-producing it themselves with engineer Pete Bartlett. One Little Indian rejected the album twice, and eventually, both label and band agreed to bring in up-and-coming producer Pascal Gabriel to work on a couple of tracks. One of the label's complaints about the album as the band originally submitted it was that they felt it lacked a potential hit single, so Gabriel produced a new song ("Come on Now") that the band had written after the rest of the album had already been recorded; Gabriel also remixed two of the album's other tracks (the opener "Sand on Fire" and first single "Now It's Time to Say Goodbye"). The resulting album, Cowboys and Aliens, was released in the UK in October 1994, and although the band admitted that they enjoyed working with Gabriel, the changes did nothing to help the album's dismal sales. When the album saw its US release in early 1995, it was largely ignored by the same alternative rock radio and media that had championed them just a few years before. By the end of 1995, both A&M and OLI had dropped the band.
Shortening their name to Kitchens O.D. and signing to the London-based indie label Fierce Panda Records, they issued a single, "Feel My Genie" in May 1996, which was named "Single of the Week" by Melody Maker, but they officially disbanded that summer after a farewell gig at London's Kings Cross.
In September 2012, Fitzgerald announced that he and Swales had recorded and were in the process of editing ten new songs. The reunited trio of Fitzgerald, Swales, and Goodwin released their fifth studio album Folly, their first new album in 19 years, on 30 September 2013
Drive That Fast
Kitchens of Distinction Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel the warmth upon your face
Stand back and start to smile
You now have time
You now have will
I would never want to leave this country
Where rules are fast and knowledge easy
I would never want to take you with me
And trust my hand
I would never wish this much on you
When what you have might be enough
I would never want to drive that fast
Unless you're ready, willing, happy
Take me
Away from these simple feelings
I know
There's places on the other sides of here
Take me
Away from these simple feelings
I know
I'll take that car and drive there faster
I would never want to take you with me
Until you're open and grab my hand
I would never wish this much on you
Until you like to live that fast
You stand here in my place
Feel the warmth upon your face
Stand back and start to smile
You now have time
You now have will
I would never want to do that to you
To take you far and leave you stranded
I have never gone quite far enough
But you can get off whenever you like
Take me
Away from these simple feelings
I know
There's places on the other sides of here
Take me
Away from these simple feelings
I know
I'll take that car and drive there faster
I would never want to do that to you
I would never want to drive that fast
I would never want to do that to you
I would never want to drive that fast
"Drive That Fast" by Kitchens Of Distinction is a song that expresses the desire for the freedom to live life on one's own terms. The song speaks about standing in one place, feeling warmth on the face, and having time and willpower. The singer of the song expresses his contentment with the country they are living in, where rules are fast and knowledge is easy. At the same time, he is willing to take risks and go to the other side of the world if the person they are with is ready, willing, and happy. The song also explores the idea that the singer doesn't want to take the person they are with on this journey of discovery until they are open and trusting of the singer's hand. They express their reluctance to do anything that might hurt their partner or cause them harm.
The lyrics could be interpreted in several ways. It speaks about the desire to experience life to the fullest without any regrets. As we move along the journey of life, we are often presented with different opportunities that might require us to take risks and push ourselves out of our comfort zone. "Drive That Fast" is an anthem that speaks to those who aspire to embrace change and chase their dreams, even if it requires a leap of faith.
Line by Line Meaning
You stand here in my place
I am inviting you to share my perspective and experience
Feel the warmth upon your face
Take a moment to appreciate the pleasant sensations around you
Stand back and start to smile
Allow yourself to feel happy and relaxed
You now have time
There is no need to rush or feel anxious
You now have will
You have the power to choose and make decisions
I would never want to leave this country
I am content with my current situation and do not desire to leave
Where rules are fast and knowledge easy
The laws are fair and easily understood here
I would never want to take you with me
I do not want to bring you somewhere you might not enjoy
Unless you're open
Unless you are willing to try new things
And trust my hand
Unless you have faith in my judgment and capabilities
I would never wish this much on you
I would not want to burden you with too much responsibility or stress
When what you have might be enough
When you might already have everything you need to be happy
I would never want to drive that fast
I would not want to take unnecessary risks or endanger us
Unless you're ready, willing, happy
Unless you genuinely want to take that risk and feel confident in doing so
Take me
Come with me on an adventure
Away from these simple feelings
Let's experience something more exciting and complex
I know
I am aware
There's places on the other sides of here
There are exciting and unfamiliar places to explore
I'll take that car and drive there faster
I am eager to embark on this journey and reach our destination quickly
I would never want to do that to you
I would not want to hurt you or put you in a difficult position
To take you far and leave you stranded
To bring you to a place where you do not know anyone or feel isolated
I have never gone quite far enough
I feel like I have not yet fully lived my life or explored all that the world has to offer
But you can get off whenever you like
You have the freedom to choose when and how to leave this journey
I would never want to drive that fast
I would not want to take unnecessary risks or endanger us
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAN GOODWIN, JULIAN SWALES, PATRICK FITZGERALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SanJuanCreole
2023 and still beautiful 🌹
@cwarner218
Awesome song, loved it when I was 22, and still love it now at 53
@abdsamad8466
OK boomer
@cwarner218
@Abd Samad actually, boomer would be my parents, gen x here 🤙
@gingergp3602
50. Our parents are boomers. We're Gen X.
@machineman6498
Gen X
@guichard8109
Same here. Agreed.
@mancunianace8428
Painfully underated.
@prinznevsky
this song is easily one of the best love songs EVER written. the themes of movement, forgiveness, hope, and trust coupled with the absolutely ASTOUNDING music are completely timeless. KOD was (and is) one of the best bands to tap into the complexities of the heart with the emotive music to match. I still thank (deity of choice) that I actually got to see them back in '92 supporting Suzanne Vega (weird!)
@Lethe8737
What a lineup!