Redd Kross's full-blooded return-to-magnificence, Researching the Blues (full stream here), is out this week, offering a chance to right the wrong the world made by ignoring their 1997 masterpiece, Show World. The long-running LA punk/rock/pop band have joined the roster of Merge Records, adding another jewel to that label's indie-king crown. The album itself is a monster of rock riffage and pop hookage - for stone-cold proof check out the first single "Stay Away From Downtown".
Despite the band's claim that "we're getting uglier everyday", their power-pop in fact grows more beautiful every year, as songs like "Dracula's Daughters " and "One of the Good Ones" will surely prove. Of course, the band keep the power side of the bargain here on rockers like "Uglier" and "Choose to Play". And, as if if revitalized by Steve McDonald's participation in Keith Morris' explosive hardcore-revival band, OFF!, Redd Kross keep things relentless here, wrapping up the whole album in thirty-two minutes. Don't call it a comeback, Redd Kross (and their innumerable side-projects) have been here for years. Last time around, Redd Kross got lost in the guitar-rock glut of this mid-nineties but this time it looks like a rock-starved world is finally gonna do it's fuckin' research.
(more Redd Kross on MRML can be found HERE!)
Redd Kross Hompage
Hmmmm interesting. I gave up on Redd Kross so many years ago it's hard to recall, BUT, based on the video you've posted I need to readdress that decision.
ReplyDeleteNice post. Thanks.
I love helping people readdress musical decision - hope you like the album!
DeleteMy goodness, this is a great, great album and that lead single rocks so hard.
ReplyDeleteThat may be my favourite RK song ever.
DeleteOrdering my copy now... have been listening to "Born Innocent" and "Teen Babes..." incessantly, so this post is well-timed indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I'm glad so many people are digging his album - RK deserve a big break!
DeleteIt appears that the under-achievers of the class of 82' (Redd Kross, Keith Morris, The dB's) are making 2012 their year. I have zero problems with this.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping I get the call from Music Trader that my copy of "Researching The Blues" is in today...
CallPastorJerkface
I so know you're gonna love this record - I do have to listen to that dB's again.
Delete