The Mayflies USA leapt into focus riding the wave of the Chapel Hill NC scene in 1996 and released a debut album, Summertown, that still sounds as great as it did then. Aided by Chris Stamey as Producer on all three albums, it ended in 2002 after their third album.
The band went off to be successful in their chosen directions until this fourth album, 23 years on and what a reunion it is. Most seem to be calling them Power Pop, but Kickass Kids is much more than that. There are familiar handclaps and songs that are Power Pop, but the majority is spent in a much wider field.
There are touches of Pop Rock, Jangle Pop and even Americana, but they still have that second hand of the 90s American vibe. Melodic, well performed and arranged songs cross the decades without the band retaining their own identity.
Jewel Of Russia comes across all 1979 UK New Wave and Thought The Rain Was Gone may be the best thing that you will hear all year, an absolute Tour De Force Pop Rock song. You will hear that on the new Listening To This Week Playlist later..
Yet Railway Spine is very West Coast, almost Country at times and the closer, Roll It Down The Line is pure Americana. Cabbagetown is splendid Pop, yet Come On Down is more Front Porch with a wonderful weeping steel guitar accompaniment.
Kickless Kids is the sound of a band who know what they are doing, experience may have mellowed but the songwriting and playing shows the benefit of experience. It also underlines the joy of the album format. This is something to be listened to from start to finish and then played again.
You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD and as a download.
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Absolutely LOVE this record! I always try to keep my expectations low with these "comeback" or "reunion" records, but this is simply one of their best albums.
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