1990s - Kicks

(Muso's Guide, February 17, 2009)

Album review

Although they have been hailed by many - including influential Rough Trade bods - as the future of music, the very charm of Scotrock combo 1990s is that they sound, well, a bit like the past.

After their 2007 debut Cookies brought in such astounding plaudits, it seems that the three-piece went for the “if it ain’t broke” ethos, which is marginally safer than the “let’s throw everything we can at it” ethos employed by all too many bands. Right from the off, the very essence of Kicks is accessible, melodious music.

Taking as their cue the sunshine superpop of fellow countrymen Teenage Fanclub, instant pop classics pour from the speakers like so many infectious diseases, ready to leap upon an unsuspecting listener and imbue them with the 1990s’ indie dream. ‘Giddy Up’ is a pounding, ‘Rocks’-style stomper which functions as an ode to the “whatever” ethos - “I guess I could but I prefer not to”, while ‘Tell Me When You’re Ready’ makes a virtue of the band’s laidback, uncomplicated lyrical output, with plenty to identify with for the youth of today - “you never have any money/And I don’t care… Girl you’re taking such a long time to get ready”.

Kicks is a nice little record - it’s pleasant to nod along to, and 1990s do make an enjoyable night out in their live incarnation. But, to be honest, there is little here that is explosive . Just one of the tracks galvanises the rock footstomp which they so clearly think they have cornered. The epic - in feel, if not length - ‘Kickstrasse’ features The Long Blondes’ Kate Jackson, and she makes a terrific appearance on a bawling chorus - but it is the one moment when Kicks is actually elevated above the investigative rock which the band showed themselves to be so adept at on 2007’s Cookies.

Perhaps the 1990s can have a few listens to ‘Kickstrasse’ now it’s out there, and truly grasp what it is that they could shine at. They obviously have it in them – now they just have to find it.