Released - 11/16/10
Label - This is Music
BLURB - Kisses has been on my radar for the last four months. I had never really listened to them, but was hearing nothing but rave reviews from numerous magazines and web sites. They played several shows during New York's annual CMJ Music Festival in October and I made it a point to work their Glasslands showcase into one of my nights. The show literally blew me away. Kisses has an all too likable way of fusing dream pop, indie rock and dance all together in to this bright amalgamation of music. The album itself is filled with breezy, relaxing jams that would make the perfect soundtrack for a trip to the shore. Musically, the record is fairly simple, but always does a superb job of blending both electronica and lo-fi beach pop.
Rating - 9 out of 10
FULL STORY - Much of "The Heart of the Nightlife" has an eighties pop feel to it - from the melodies to the overall tone. 'Kisses' opens the album and is one of the best songs of the year, easily. A catchy progression of piano chords serves as the foundation while warm keyboard riffs provide a variety of hooks. The vocals are both calm and reposed, creating this laid-back summer vibe that matches perfectly with the music. Kisses also brilliantly employs digital clap tracks that creates a unique modern twist on a song that songs like it is straight out of 1988.
'Bermuda' is the second song, and is very much in the same vein as the opener. This time around the pace is slowed down slightly, but the hooks and melodies are just as present. Electronic keyboards and bright synth riffs continue with the eighties aesthetics, while the lyrics provide both a memorable and catchy chorus:
"Man it hurts me to do it, when my life's gone through it all. And I say I shouldn't, but you see right through it all. And it feels like changing fortune, there's a long way back. They say if the clock is right it's a bad time. Because you crushed my love."
Fans of Washed Out should rejoice in Kisses' sound. Both bands are eerily comparable, but Kisses may have taken the lead with "The Heart of the Nightlife" simply because of their ability to concisely deliver hook after hook. Washed Out, for the last two years, has easily been my favorite band - so it's both exciting and impressive to see a band like Kisses come out of nowhere and further develop the shoe-gaze, dream pop genre. Kisses is also all too likable and accessible. Whereas Washed Out tends to create these hazy, distorted pop gems (sometimes to the extreme), Kisses comes along and sort of cleans up the chaos, producing a much more listenable, pop record.
Title track, 'The Heart of the Nightlife' begins with a steadily building kick drum against a few organ chords that quickly turns into a disco beat before you realize what's happening. While the track is an instrumental, it is undeniably upbeat and infectious. Waves of effects and guitar riffs cycle in and out all while the beat continues to grow and evolve. The track kind of reminds me of much of Bibio's "Ambivalence Avenue" album and is filled with great beats, warm textures and a smooth collection of seaside guitar riffs.
I may be predisposed to liking, 'A Weekend in Brooklyn' primarily because I live in Brooklyn. But this track may be the most beautiful composed and produced on the record. Bursts of synth chords crash through the speakers like waves on the shore, creating an inviting atmosphere and relaxing vibe. One of the great things about Kisses is how they incorporate real instrumentation into their tracks. Granted much of the album is run through laptops and keyboards, but their infusion of electric guitars gives the record a sense of credibility that most of the lo-fi do-it-yourselfers just can't do. With 'A Weekend in Brooklyn' the song gently floats along, but after about three minutes of the same tones and sounds, the listener can easily become disengaged. To combat this, much like the band Memory Tapes, Kisses throws together a great collection of guitar riffs and solos that provide diversity and energy to the track as it builds to its completion.
'Midnight Lover' will literally make you get out of your seat and dance. From the first beat you can tell that you're going to fall in love with this track. There is an instant groove established from the myriad of clean guitar hooks and upbeat bass lines. Once again, we're flooded with riffs and melodies that bounce around our eardrums like a game of musical air hockey. Simply put, the song is incredibly fun and catchy, and the ironic lyrics only add to the enjoyment:
"I would like to take you out. I would like to take out for a nice steak dinner...just me and you."
"The Heart of the Nightlife" casually floats by with elegance and grace, yet somehow finds a way to be upbeat and exciting. The album as a whole has a very distinct vibe to it and always seems to put me in a great mood. Everything from the guitars to the electronic synthesizers feels warm and inviting, just begging you to listen. Even the vocals seem to match perfectly with the music. Granted, the vocals aren't anything amazing, but there is a subtle confidence and swagger there that cleverly mixes with the music in a very light-hearted fashion.
Back in Pennsylvania, I tend to spend a lot of time in our hot tub, usually blasting music and enjoying a few Yuenglings. Kisses is perfect hot tub music. It's relaxing, but not boring. Exciting, but not chaotic. And listening to the album instantly conjures up images of going to the beach and laying out in the sun. The only thing that appears unfortunate about 'The Heart of the Nightlife" is that it was released in the cold of November. But all this really means is I'll have to wait until June to throw this on my iPod as I catch the N train to Coney Island. Until then, it's to the hot tub I go.
Tracks
1.) Kisses
2.) Bermuda
3.) People Can Do the Most Amazing Things
4.) On the Move
5.) The Heart of the Nightlife
6.) Lovers
7.) A Weekend in Brooklyn
8.) Midnight Lover
9.) Women of the Club
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