Rock Kills Kid are one of the latest additions to the Fearless Records roster and are a bit of a change from what you might expect from the label. The foursome play a kind of rock influenced pop-punk heavily tinged at the radio – it’s sugary sweet stuff that hints at the likes of Jimmy Eat World mixed with Yellowcard and Junction 18, if that makes much sense.
The bands first release, this 6-track self-titled EP, is a solid enough start to their Fearless career without being inventive or flashy in the slightest. Opener ‘Dream’ is by far their best moment, coming across like the best bits of Yellowcard by somehow making the guitars seem like there’s a violin there when there is no such instrument in attendance. It’s hard to explain, I just suggest listening. Lyrically it’s hardly adventurous or original but it has a singalong chorus to die for and is an all round good song. ‘Miracle’ never really gets going but does have a melodic edge to it that suckers the listener in. It has a kind of Beatles for the year 2003 feel to it but with a more sugary pop-punk feel.
The less up-beat ‘Everything To Me’ has another excellent chorus but to me there’s definitely a sense of something missing. It’s a good song but certainly not a great one and that sums up the EP for me. There’s no greatness here, nothing original or adventurous – it’s safe radio rock with a serated edge blunted by some clever polished production. There’s an element of the likes of Semisonic in ‘Be There’, a track which chugs along and although decent enough is far too disposable to have any lasting impact. ‘Immanuel’ is dire, with a cheesy chorus played over a power-chord-by-numbers riff which is instantly forgettable. The pop-lite ‘Again’ doesn’t offer much substance either, and a record which started so brightly has dropped off to something that is nothing more than mediocre.
Rock Kills Kid certainly show a few moments of brilliance, but over the course of the EP there’s nothing of too much substance that makes them sit above some of the other bands of a similiar ilk. ‘Dream’ is a great song and if that is a taster of what could come from the band in the not too distant future, Rock Kills Kid could become ones to keep an eye on. Until then it may be a case of sample before you buy.
www.rockkillskid.com
Paul