Kids Like Us
Outta Control
5.6
Kids Like Us? Outta Control? No thanks. See ya.
* gets pushed back in front of the computer *
All right, I’ll do it already! Let’s see. This Floridian outfit plays a style that can be succinctly described as hardcore punk. As the descriptors relay, Kids Like Us drift into said styles and add a few details that set them apart from their peers. Unfortunately, their god-awful moniker and album title will be a detractor when the band attempts to garner the attention they sort of deserve.
From the get-go, it’s apparent that originality – in this case – is not the kids’ greatest concern, because Outta Control isn’t really all that innovative. Though the songwriting isn’t mind-blowing, it radiates an aura of genuineness, which suggests that Kids Like Us are enthused about what they do. However, more often than not, most numbers only stick around for a minute or two. Seriously. There are only thirteen songs on the CD, and the lengthiest is the closing track. Moreover, the quartet overtly succeeds on the aforementioned composition for a number of reasons. First, they announce a change by iterating “Welcome to the South.” Second, they tackle a whole different subgenre. Finally, the Southern-based, sludgy riffs are very inviting.
Funnily enough, the closer on Outta Control was proof to me that Kids Like Us are capable of – to use a cliché – thinking outside the box, and that’s relatively important in today’s music world. Yeah, these guys can be comfortably shelved among other hardcore punk acts, but I’d love to see them meld styles in the future. At the least, it’d be an interesting development; at the most, it’d elevate them above their rivals.
For me, the shitty cover art served as an immediate stop sign – I’ve heard the complete inlay is impressive, though. But, after witnessing the brevity, I was even less taken with the album. Tread carefully around this, especially you curious ones out there. No cats, please.
