ONLINE BOO RADLEYS / Kingsize Producer(s): Boo Radleys Creation/Never 2027 POP Originally reviewed online 1/23/99 Those tuneful lads from Liverpool are back, and they haven't missed a beat since leaving Sony last year. In fact, they seem downright energized by their shift from major label to indie status. For "Kingsize" not only happily pilfers from their hometown's grand musical history, but it also builds upon it in ways that no Beatle clone has ever done successfully. Cuts like "Heaven's At The Bottom Of This Glass" succeed in taking edgy, often cynical lyrics and dropping 'em into music that is unabashedly jubilant, with jangly guitars and delightfully bright horn flourishes, while lead single "Free Huey" is a frenetic, almost rave-like ditty, paying homage to Huey Newton, a prominent member of the Black Panther Movement. If the juxtaposition of sweet and sharp seems jarring, well, contradiction, contrast, and absolute chaos have been the Boos' trademarks since their 1992 debut, "Ichabod & I." From the start, group mastermind Martin Carr has shown a talent for crafting perfect pop hooks -- and writing highly intelligent, imaginative lyrics. In a field of anemic rockers without a clue, the Boos continue to be an essential breath of fresh air. -- Larry Flick