Citizen King
| Company type | Music ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Milwaukee , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Citizen King was a music ensemble originating from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, known for their fusion of hip-hop, soul, and punk genres. Their most notable achievement was the 1999 single "Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)", which reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
History
The band came together in 1993 following the dissolution of Wild Kingdom, with both groups enjoying significant local popularity. Citizen King's initial LP and EP releases garnered regional commercial attention within Wisconsin and earned critical praise. Their debut album, Brown Bag LP, featured production contributions from Speech of Arrested Development, who discovered the band. This release was succeeded by the EP Count the Days.
After supporting Fishbone on tour, Citizen King secured a contract with Warner Bros. Records after a standout performance at the South by Southwest festival. Their 1999 album, Mobile Estates, experienced moderate success, largely propelled by the hit track "Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)". This song gained additional exposure through its inclusion in both the pilot and finale episodes of Malcolm in the Middle.
During the summer of 1999, "Better Days" climbed into the Top 40 charts, achieving positions of on Modern Rock Tracks, on Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales, and on Top 40 Recurrents. That same year, Citizen King performed at Toronto's Humble & Fred Fest.
A remix version of "Better Days" was featured in the 2000 film Gone in 60 Seconds, while the original appeared in the video game Street Sk8er 2, alongside their track "Under the Influence". The song "Salt Bag Spill" was included on the soundtrack for The Animal in 2001. The group was managed by Milwaukee native Jeff Castelaz, who later founded Dangerbird Records. Castelaz’s industry experience proved valuable; he continues to represent keyboardist Dave Cooley in his roles as producer and mixer.
In a 2006 interview, Castelaz disclosed that Citizen King had nearly completed a second album—approximately 85% finished—before disbanding unexpectedly in the early 2000s. Although specific reasons were not revealed, he suggested that ending the band was unavoidable under those circumstances. Speculation about internal conflicts involving Sims circulated but remained unverified.
Following the breakup, Cooley embarked on a successful career as a producer, collaborating with acts including Silversun Pickups, Local Natives, Eulogies, Darker My Love, and The Polyphonic Spree. Additionally, he took on mastering responsibilities for Stones Throw Records, working on projects by artists such as J Dilla and label founder Peanut Butter Wolf.
Personnel
- Mount Sims – lead vocals (1993–2002), bass guitar (1997–2002)
- Kristian Riley – guitar (1993–2002)
- Dave Cooley – keyboards (1993–2002)
- Malcolm Michiles – turntables (1993–2002)
- Gintas Janusonis – drums (1993–1994)
- DJ Brooks – drums (1994–2002)
- Sage Schwarm – bass guitar (1993–1995)
- John Dominguez – bass guitar (1995)
- Cory Coleman – bass guitar (1995–1997)
Albums
- Brown Bag LP (1995)
- Mobile Estates (March 9, 1999), reached number 27 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart
Extended plays
- Sydney Hih (1997) (a collection of demos and B-side tracks recorded between 1993 and 1996)
- Count The Days (released April 2, 1996)
Singles
| Title | Year | US Hot 100 |
US Alternative |
US Pop |
AUS | CAN | GER | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)" | 1999 | 25 | 3 | 11 | 86 | 20 | 95 | Mobile Estates |
| "Under The Influence" | 1999 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Mobile Estates |
| "Long Walk Home" | 2000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Mobile Estates |
| "—" denotes absence from charts or no release in that market. | ||||||||