THE ELECTRIC KISSES
The Electric Kisses are a three-piece power pop outfit who deliver
their rock ‘n’ roll with electrifying male and female vocals. You may
not be aware of these seasoned musicians from Seattle just yet,
because The Electric Kisses do not rely on a trendy “punk” identity to
sell themselves like many of the bands playing stale power pop today.
Instead, Sarah, Heather-Jane, and Mike deliver eleven foot-stomping
tunes on their debut album with an exciting energy reminiscent of the
Real Kids, Nikki and the Corvettes, Paul Collins Beat, The Kids, and
of course, the Ramones.
These three are clearly more interested in making good noise then
making the scene, and their songs rock! They are hook-filled
locomotive rhythms, blasting away with a catchy power pop and
punk-infused swagger. This band is about that one good riff, about
that one good hook, about that one good song that will make your
tiring day a little more complete. Listen to “These Daze”, “I Hate
Retail”, and “B-Side of My Heart”, and you will know immediately
what the snotty Electric Kisses are about. Watch out for their first
album, with different artwork for the vinyl version to boot!
PRESS:
EAR CANDY – ABOUT S/T:
This trio is at the top of my favorites list at the moment. Eleven slabs of the catchiest pop punk your eardrums have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. They sort of remind me of The Riff Randalls, Nikki and the Corvettes, and the Ramones all rolled into one neat little package. “Jaxom” is one song I just can’t seem to get enough of. This is one band I’m already looking forward to getting their next release.
BMO'S WORLD – ABOUT S/T:
Fun, fun, fun – that’s what this disc is all about, and I can't resist it. It's all super simple, super catchy, power pop styled punk, with alternating boy and girl vocals and a stripped down three-piece sound, reminiscent of Kenne Highland and Ken Kaiser's Korps. The true essence of all rock 'n' roll (from rockabilly to punk) is the idea that anyone can do it. Energy and a passion for the music are way more important than chops or technique. Well, The Electric Kisses have energy and passion to spare. They sing about buying records, playing records, and dancing (to records and to live bands, especially ones where the boys wear tight pants and the girls wear short skirts). They sing about riding a bicycle while listening to cassettes through headphones, turned up loud so you can scream. They sing about being grateful for what you've got instead of worrying about what you don't want. But most of all they sing about loving rock 'n' roll, and you can tell they mean it. By keeping the arrangements simple and the production clean, they really allow their own personalities to shine through. And you can't help but like them.
UNDER THE VOLCANO – ABOUT S/T:
I’ve hitched a ride on a time machine and found myself at the Masque in L.A. in the summer of 1979. The place reeks of piss, beer, vomit, and sweat, and the crowd is digging the female-female-male manage-a-trios onstage. The songs are Ramones-esque: simple, kinda dumb, but passionate in the way Eric Clapton is not. Sigh. The Electric Kisses are really a new band from Seattle, of all places, though they sure as hell sound like a power pop punk band from L.A. back in the day. Songs like “I Hate Retail” and “Don’t Really Care” cement the sound. Very kewl.
GLITZZINE - ABOUT S/T:
The '70s punk scene was and has always been a great influence to bands and musicians alike, with an incredible power to sway the style and approach a band takes. There's no better example than that of Seattle trio The Electric Kisses. With influences like the Ramones, The Real Kids, and Nikki and the Corvettes, you should have an idea of the sound this band has created.
The vocals seem to be shared half and half with Mike taking the lead and Sarah frequently harmonizing and providing the choruses, then swapping to Sarah with Mike doing the backing, with this use of vocal layering creating an edge to their already peaking set. The lyrics are typical of that early pop punk style, straight forward, honest, and at times slightly kitsch. The flair is persistent throughout the whole album, not once letting up. No ballads, no holding back - just real kids having real good fun. Imagine Blondie and Joey Ramone jamming with The Adolescents.
However, this isn't an album that blows your mind instantaneously, and there's no point just pin pointing one track and leaving it at that. The whole album listened too from start to finish, more than once, enables you to gain the best impression. What you first think will be the best tracks start clashing with the ones you think won't be!
"(You Make Me) Wanna Dance" is a frivolous and flighty pop punk anthem, definitely showing The Corvettes influence with lines like "All you boys in your tight tight pants, you make me wanna dance", and "On the stage with your tambourine, you're a dream".
There's a hint of The Only Ones in the intro to "Spinnin' Labels", a song where Mike has the run of throughout. Towards the end, the familiar female harmonies interrupt, which spoils the song albeit for only a few bars! A nice touch would have been to have left them out for just this track and show off the vocal's and musician's abilities. Saying that, "Sweet Thunder" sees Sarah's voice take off for a whole song and really proves what a talent and range she has.
All the songs are rather short, some only just over a minute long, but better short and sweet than long, drawn out, and boring.
RAZORCAKE - ABOUT S/T:
Here’s the disclaimer: Mike Frame, who’s in this band, does reviews and interviews for us. So take this how you will. The Electric Kisses are Nikki Corvette-style fun. Simple, stripped-down, direct, clear punk rock that’s poppy. They seem so internal and comfortable with punk rock: declaring a person’s love is stuck to B-side status, that friends are either dead or have stopped living, and it’s all wrapped around one of those honking big lollipops swirled with a rainbow of colors with a carbon monoxide center. The one thing I wished on the initial listens: more immediate explosions and pock marks. But it’s weird - compared to, say, The Eyeliners or the Riff Randells - where at first I was floored, and then later, I wouldn’t have minded a little more (which I think those bands were capable of) - The Electric Kisses deliver in dosed drips. The details slowly pop out and splash a new clarity to the songs: “Oh shit, they totally ripped off The Kids cover (down to the tape on the edges),” and “for being lyrics about adolescent-type sounding stuff, they’re really seasoned. I don’t feel like a pedophile listening to this.” So yup, count me as a fan, more and more with each successive listen. Cool stuff.
MAXIMUM ROCK ‘N’ ROLL - ABOUT S/T:
Great, co-ed, attitude-drenched power pop from dear ol' soggy bottom Seattle. This is kept simple, almost taking on the charm of some old, early '80s English indie band. With abundant energy, catchy little hooks, and great vocals, how could one possibly go wrong? If you like to snuggle up with your six pack and your favorite Kids, Boys, and Nikki and the Corvettes records, then I suggest you fire up the credit card and order away.
TERMINAL BOREDOM - ABOUT S/T:
Well played, well recorded, the chicks are hot (and the dude looks kinda creepy, which I think is a plus) and in the end no more offensive and probably just as good as anything Long Gone has released in this mold over the years (The Excessories, The Chubbies, The Peeps, Kirby Grips, Rizzo, and so and so forth). And the song about collecting records hits home - you have to like lyrics about flipping through bins and the happiness in buying vinyl just on principle. It's the best tune on the record too.
NOW WAVE - ABOUT S/T:
This is it, folks - the most fun album in the history of recorded music. No joke! I've reviewed something like two thousand bands since I got into this zine game, and The Electric Kisses are far and away the most exuberant out of all of 'em. Do you like enthusiasm? Do you like positive energy? Do you like music that makes you feel good about life? Then The Electric Kisses are the band for you! They make The Wiggles sound like Joy Division! They make Up with People seem like the Peoples Temple!
Combining the amateurish charm and bratty girl vocals of early '90s Kill Rock Stars punk with the Ramonesy thrust and girl group harmonies of Nikki and the Corvettes and Darin Raffaelli era Donnas, The Electric Kisses' brand of punky rock 'n' roll is delightfully high-spirited and insanely catchy. On this debut album, the Seattle trio tears it up with unbridled energy, model simplicity, and a snotty attitude you just have to love. Guitarist Mike Frame shares singing duties with Sarah (bass) and Heather-Jane (drums). His snot-nosed vocal style is just the right fit for the band. The boy/girl vocals go together like pizza and beer! And while not everyone will be of the disposition to jump up and down or sing along at top-of-your-lungs volume, I can't imagine anyone being completely immune to the contagious vivacity of songs like "B-Side of My Heart", "Jaxom", and "I Hate Retail". And the perfectly-titled "Sweet Thunder" is just about the best Runaways knock-off you'll ever hear!
I suppose it is possible to not enjoy yourself while listening to this album. I mean, maybe you'll play it while frying your face in a hot pan or squeezing your weiner in a vice-grip. Perhaps you'll get mauled by a bear while walking from your turntable to your couch. And there's always the possibility that you'll leave a pen in your pocket and pierce your scrotum while dancing. What can I tell you, kids? Be careful! If rock 'n' roll were 100 percent safe, would it really be so much fun?
NO FRONT TEETH - ABOUT S/T:
I know I’ve said this in so many reviews before, but it’s something that’s very important to me and I think a hugely important dynamic of punk rock. And that is, what ever happened to fun in punk? Bands that can authentically communicate pleasure and excitement through their records. I think Full Breach Kicks has got them all! Rock ‘n’ Roll Stormtroopers, Kevin K, and now
The Electric Kisses too. This is a mind-blower of a record, and the impact is amazing and it’s all kept so super-simple and that’s exactly what I’m after. The more complex the songs, the less impact they have, and this is where a lot of punk rock bands go wrong. Keep it simple and captivating. This is exactly how I’d describe The Electric Kisses. Plus they are a three-piece, and when pulled off well, is the best shit ever. And man, can these cats pull a three-piece off. You know a three-piece works when there’s absolutely nothing missing from the sound and delivery. Because it can sound thin and empty if it’s not done right, so if you want to hear it done how it should be, check out The Electric Kisses. What a ridiculously good debut. I’m beyond stunned. What a fantastic band name too. I’m genuinely electrified.
VEGLAM - ABOUT S/T:
Using a similar formula as New York City’s excellent trio The Little Killers (2 chicks and 1 dude), The Electric Kisses introduce themselves for the very first time with this eponymous full-length. This punk/pop firecracker explodes! Everything works democratically with vocal duties shared between all three members of the band. Their compositions bring us back to the ‘70s when Sarah and Heather-Jane both took the lead. The Stilettos, X-Ray Spex, and Nikki and the Corvettes come to mind, but the comparisons can also range from ‘80s bands like Transvision Vamp (Pop Art) to present day contemporaries such as The Holograms. As for Mike? Even if his appearance could let us think he’s awaiting for a phone call from Tom Araya to replace one of the furious Slayer members, he surprises the listener with melodic guitar and vocals, and his voice sometimes possesses an intonation that is reminiscent of Stiv Bators, which will definitely not displease most of you! It is not difficult to imagine The Electric Kisses brief and killer tunes translating perfectly on stage. After one listening to their self-titled debut, you will promise yourself to be in the first row when The Electric Kisses hit your town.
CARBON 14 - ABOUT S/T:
Seriously cool rockin' co-ed punks from the wild wetlands of Washington. Think Nikki Corvette, The Flamin' Groovies, and The Only Ones all snuggled up tight in a sleeping bag.
DIG IT - ABOUT S/T:
Je craque pour The Electric Kisses! C’est juste du punk basique taillé à la masse dans le rock des Ramones, mais j’adore quand les deux filles s’emballent et qu’elles balancent des vocaux aussi sautillants et excités que des puces des sables à marée montante! Le premier album de ce trio de Seattle, enregistré dans les Egg Studios de Conrad Uno, ne laissera pas non plus indifférents les amateurs de Nikki and the Corvettes ou d’ X-Ray Spex.
3rd GENERATION NATION - ABOUT S/T:
Dieses kleine feine power pop trio aus Seattle orientiert sich auf ihren insgesamt 11 songs an Bands wie the The Real Kids, Nikki and the Corvettes, Paul Collins Beat, and The Kids und natuerlich an den Ramones. Leider nicht mit dem erhofften Erfolg. Da stolpern sie bei den meisten Liedern doch noch ein wenig zu arg und stossen recht schnell an ihre eigenen musikalischen Grenzen. Der Anfang ist gemacht, nun sollte man sich den Feinheiten noch ein wenig widmen und spaetestens ab dem naechsten Album kommen ihre Kompositionen bestimmt viel fluessiger und direkter daher. 3 stars!
