Kisses - "Kids in LA" Review

Artist: Kisses

Album: Kids In LA

Label: Cascine

Release Date: May 14^th, 2013

Review By: Sean Kayden

In 2010, Kisses released their quaint, praise worthy record, “The Heart Of The Nightlife.” I was a big supporter of that incredibly catchy and soothing album. It combined 80s dance beats with subtle, charming vocals. At the time, it felt like Kisses was one of the few bands doing something different with their predilection for all things ‘80s. For the LA duo’s sophomore release “Kids in LA,” the band has polished their sound that gives them a larger soundscape to roam through. This inclination for a more developed style has them sounding just like every other band out there obsessed with new wave. From the nine tracks here, there are moments musically that really shine, but the whole is not greater than the sum of its parts. “Kids in LA” suffers from the lack of creativity found on “The Heart Of The Night Life.” It is also burden by a completely dull narrative. When you really get into the thick of things, those flashes of greatness are short lived and sadly forgotten once a number of uninspiring tunes are heard.

While the debut record focused more on tropical beats and laid back vibes, “Kids in LA” has more of a LA nightlife disposition to it. It’s flashy, retro, and packs a lot of gleam. Jesse Kival and Zinzi Edmundson, the couple behind Kisses are engaged. This record reflects more so on relationships than anything else. However, the stories aren’t either interesting or engaging. With mundane lyrics, stale beats and ostensibly no connection from one song to the next, it not only becomes a frustrating listening experience but one that’s difficult to support with its shortcomings. Nonetheless, there’s this twinkle of hope within the songs, “Funny Heartbeat” and “Air Conditioning.” Both tracks remind me of songs from their impressive debut—catchy, sensitive, no nonsense pop gems. Even when Kisses dabble with melancholy arrangements, you still can find the carefree joy embedded in those distinct tunes.

Kisses’ “Kids in LA” exudes a summer night sort of feel, but as with any summer night, the fun ends as quickly as it started. “Kids in LA” is a display of a band burgeoning from adolescence to adulthood. There is this self-awareness of growing up entrenched inside the record, but those listening to it rarely can connect on a deeper level. It’s as almost as if this particular record was a love letter from one member of the band to the other since they’re in a dedicated relationship. The sweetness is there, the passion is present, but the magic isn’t on display the way it should be. Something on “Kids in LA” is awry, which left me wholly unfulfilled by the entire thing. Tragically so the album fails to live up to the potential one may have had for it after listening to their first record three years ago.

Grade: 5.9 out of 10
Key Tracks: “Funny Heartbeat,” “Air Conditioning” 

Published by Mountain Views News on May 25th, 2013
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v07/htm/n21/p15.htm