Album Review

The Meddling Kids – The Meddling Kids

• 2nd Feb 2008

The Meddling Kids (TMK) cite The Beatles, Cheap Trick, Kiss, The Rolling Stones and 80s spirit as key influences on their feel good party music. A NYC outfit can’t fail to entertain can they? Can such a rich musical heritage and history be channeled properly through a band so widely acclaimed as these guys? Let’s see…

Let her go: Getting on with it from the outset, urgently delivered McFly guitar work and seemingly impatient vocals that echo a certain Marc Bolan travel along at a merry pace. In the background we occasionally hear grunge borne “Go” which adds an extra dimension to an otherwise undeveloped track. However, what it lacks in terms of dynamics is certainly made up for in execution. This is a strong opener that does little to illustrate the wealth of talents which are sure to follow.

Goodbye: Similar guitar work is found amidst a track that’s far more intricate in its composition. Boasting minimal yet harmonising backing vocals, slightly more ambitious chord structures and a feistier vocal delivery all strengthen TMK profile.

What you want: Ooh! Something of a contrived vocal somehow finds its way across a musical wasteland that’s filled with mediocre, tried and tested trickery.

The Only Way I Know (Acoustic Demo): Now we’re getting a truer taste of TMK flavour! A buoyant, tuneful track that refreshes as it engages along its less claustrophobic way. The searing vocal towards the end merely hints at some kinda vocal versatility before it’s gone. More please!

I’ve done everything for you: Whilst this is everything it attempts to be; a radio friendly track with tight, guitar hugging lyrics and a rollercoaster based construct, I just can’t help but wonder how Beavis and Butthead would rate it! Is it too Darkness? Whatever it is, it’s a joyous three minute rollicking!

Guiloteenager: Not enough emphasis is placed upon the clever title for my liking, though the line “I’m losing my head over you” certainly helps. The track itself fails to stray from a formula that’s safe and sound but not very surprising.

Whilst there’s not much diversity to be found on this EP, there’s a good helping of well executed rockin’ fit for a rock ‘n’ roll hoe down. It’s the kind of music that you can unashamedly dance to with your friends, having consumed copious amounts of alcohol to smoothen the ride. It’s all technically correct and given its sources of inspiration, it probably sounds every bit as good as it should.

And so, after succeeding at all of these things, my only suggestion would be for TMK to try and stretch their boundaries a little, shape their songs with a touch more originality or to find just what it is that makes their sound so, well, there’s, and enhance it. Good stuff on the verge of being great.