Kinetic Stereokids – Kid Moves

Kinetic Stereokids – Kid Moves (Overdraft Recordings) 2009. Man, I really wanted to like these guys. The backstory on this was so good. A bunch of dudes from Flint, Michigan, of all places, start a lo-fi, basement band, citing Can and hip-hop as references. So when I got this in the mail I thought I was gonna be all over it. I was wrong. The Kinetic Stereokids are a perfect example of the whole being less than the sum of its parts. Sure, I can hear in songs like Blunder, the experimentation of Can and sure, there’s obviously a deejay in the band who does some some scratchin’ (which wasn’t even really cutting edge in 1989, much less 2009) and yes, there is a loose, thrown together feel to the whole thing that is very lo-fi (which wasn’t even really cutting edge in 1999, much less 2009). But apparently when you throw all of these disparate elements together, you get mid-period Beck or worse yet, I keep thinking of Everlast or something which is unfair I know, but if you make me think of Everlast, you reap the consequences. This is scaring me. Calm down, Joe. I must live a cloistered life or something. I don’t wanna end up standing in line at a Starbucks ordering a mocha double latte or somesuch nonsense. For a much better example of indie kids approximating Can may I suggest Louden Up Now by !!!? My money is on The Kinetic Stereokids being on the soundtrack to some mumblecore type movie within the next year or so. At least one of them will start sleeping with Natalie Portman or that one chick. Can’t remember her name. You know the one. So guys, if you’re reading this, don’t be too mad at me. Last Days credibility won’t pay the mortgage anyway.