Customer Reviews

Cool Kids

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This was Kix's pop move.

Just because I said POP move, don't run away. "Cool Kids" was the kind of pop HARD rock that was all over the air waves during the 80's hair band craze. It's a shame that the first half of this disc didn't get the obvious radio play it so richly deserved. Kix had that snappy hook delivery down better than many of their platinum peers. Granted, the title song and accompanying video got some MTV play, and the Atlantic seaboard played the single "Body Talk" half to death. The wave didn't spread, though, and Kix was left on the road to capture more converts.

"Cool Kids" is divided into two distinct halves. There is the the radio ready first half, as exemplified by "Body Talk" and "Loco-Emotion." The keyboards sound forced and the duck quack guitars on "Body Talk" really don't belong there. That doesn't distract that these are still crackerjack rock tunes. They're only teasers to lead us to the heavy half of the album. You could tell you're in for something rougher when Steve Whiteman's screaming intro to "Mighty Mouth" gives way to some fiery guitar. The groove continues with "Let Your Monkeys Out." This "Stranded In The Jungle" styled selection was a live favorite during Kix concerts, but even more of a show grabber was the band's first ballad, "For Shame." Tender and lacking in pretension, this was a stripped down acoustic pleasure before going "un-plugged" was cool. One of these days, this track will be discovered by some movie producer who needs an 80's love ballad for a period piece, and it will become the radio hit it has always deserved to be. And then you get the album's closer, "Restless Blood." Kix's hard rocking bar band roots come through loud and clear here. It's the kind of pounding guitar track that closes an album and leaves you thirsty for more!

"Cool Kids" didn't bring Kix to the mainstream, but it wasn't for a lack of material. If the production on the first half of the record wasn't so gimmickry, this would have been a five star album in the same league as the debut.

Not a bad album, but not a very spectacular one either. Keyboards drown out a substantial amount of guitar on tracks like "Body Talk" and "Loco-Emotion", but other songs such as the title track are worthy of a few more spins. They made the right choice in throwing out the Casio after this album before people started to confuse them with the Thompson Twins...

I like this album, but I'm not sure if it's because the songs are so good, or if it's because it reminds me of being a teenager (for that's when I first heard it, lo those many years ago). The songs are kind of limp-wristed and sissified. Not exactly "manly" music. In fact, it sounds like it was recorded by a bunch of 11-year-olds boys in a basement somewhere in Idaho. But dammit, these songs are catchy as hell--just not something I would blast from my car while cruising for chicks.

I have been a KIX fan since day one and own everything they ever put out and I am baffled by the response and otherwise negative reviews of this album. I've heard the words "New Wave" used to describe this album along with comparisons to the Thompson twins. I'm sorry, but using a bit of keyboard does not make you "New Wave". Are we listening to the same album ?!?!? This is by far the greatest KIX album put out. And I love them all, but there is not one mediocre song on the entire "Cool Kids" record. And nothing on it sounds new wave. It's a great rock and roll record all the way through.

I would steer any potential new fan to this record first, even though it really wouldn't matter since all their albums were great, but I think this is the epitome of KIX.

Remember what Mr. Whiteman screamed to you from the first album.... KIX are for kids!!

A good friend can borrow any KIX album from me, because, well lets be frank, on a recording KIX is mediocre at best. COOL KIDS is the exception to the rule. This is as close as you can get to experiencing KIX when they were at their best - live in the mid 80's. Heavy guitar. Thumping drums. Excellent lead and backround vocals. The title track on this album lets you a feel just how much fun the band had recording these tracks - and the good times flow right on through to you. If you buy this CD be prepared to turn on your stereo, turn up the volume, and have a katie-bar-the-door rockin good time. Better yet, pop it in your car stereo and cruise the streets with the stereo cranked. If you run across the local law enforcement officer, quickly switch to track 9 titled "For Shame". Not even the most hardcore cop could resist a toned-down rock ballad of this quality.

Yes, these Kix songs really are for kids - but as another reviewer mentioned, they are catchy, so the album can't be trashed even if it might be considered disappointing for heavy metal fans. The 1st half relied on other songwriters like Nick Gilder (Hot Child in the City), and had a new wave sound replete with keyboards. These songs are o.k., and "Burning Love" is undeniably catchy - but the latter half is better. "Nice on Ice" and "Mighty Mouth" are energetic, have infectious hooks and are quality songs. If you like the sound of the pioneer glam metal band "Sweet", you will likely appreciate this effort.

Kix took a step back with "Cool Kids." While not a bad album, there are only traces of hard rock in the sound and Kix sounds confused over what they hope to accomplish. For some reason, synthesizers are prevalent, which did not really go well with their sound. "Mighty Mouth" and "For Shame" are the only songs that would fit on any of their other albums, and "Get Your Monkeys Out" could be the best cut, if it were allowed to rock out a bit more. The fun vibe is still obvious in the songs, though. Despite an unworthy followup to the excellent debut, the album is not without some merit, and even with questionable material, Kix retained their crown as party rock champions.

COOL KIDS is absolutely one of the finest albums ever produced by man. Nuf said.

c'mon "body talk","loco-emotion" what is this...? these guys got so much better after this but this one and the one before this were 4th graders making music in their bedrooms. as one reviewer put it laughable and rightfuly so. get the ones after this which sound so much like the hard rock/metal that was popular then this is....

After reading such laudable reviews I figured I'd hear the 30 second samples. I believe every one of those songs could fit in nicely while the credits were rolling for revenge of the nerds 3. Truely a waste of 5 minutes.