In some circles, it's been said that American rockers, Kix, were the first of the glam rock, hair metal movement. While I won't enter that debate, I do remember that when I first saw their photo in 1983, I wanted to grow my hair like them after having to wear a crew cut during my four years of service to my country. However, I heard their music before I saw what they looked like in the form of the single from the 1983, "Cool Kids" album, "Body Talk." It got enough radio play to catch my interest although I'm glad I don't recall seeing the cheesy video for it where the band cavorts with ladies in full workout garb.
"Body Talk" isn't the best song on the album and apparently, Kix only recorded the song to appease their label. However, the rest of "Cool Kids" is better. Even the first two tracks, which sounds in similar mode to the single are better and the title track is better of those two. "Love Pollution" is the first true metal song on the album in my view but it's sandwiched between songs that are not. "Body Talk" follows right after and even after thirty-three years, I still don't know what to make of "Loco-Emotion."
The second half of "Cool Kids" makes up for the faults of the first half. "Mighty Mouth" is a good rocking tune that starts off with a scream from lead singer, Steve Whiteman, which I don't know how seriously I should take. Still the song does rock! It also turns the album up a gear and progresses throughout the remainder of the album. "Nice on the Ice" and "Get Your Monkeys Out" are both good tracks. I do smile at the opening line to "Get Your Monkeys Out," which goes: "I live in the jungle" and the line from the chorus, "You got to let your monkeys out." Then things go slower with a country sounding ballad, "For Shame." This song is so country sounding that I found an acoustic version of this song on Youtube. I even want to do a "Yee hah!" during the guitar solo on it. However, I don't think the band is serious on the song. Fortunately, things return to more metal pastures with the closer, "Restless Blood," which sounds to me like fore runner to one of Kix's best know songs, "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah." Maybe it's the "hey, hey, hey" that's sung several times in the song that makes me think that. Still, "Restless Blood" does conclude things on a positive note, even with the slow down part in the middle of the song because that's rapidly followed by the best guitar solo on the album. A great way to end!
Track Listing:
- Burning Love
- Cool Kids
- Love Pollution
- Body Talk
- Loco-Emotion
- Mighty Mouth
- Nice on Ice
- Get Your Monkeys Out
- For Shame
- Restless Blood
Kix[/caption]Steve Whitemann- lead vocals, harmonica, saxophone
Brad Divens- guitar, backing vocals, talk box
Brian 'Damage' Forsythe- guitars
Donnie Purnell- bass, backing vocals, keyboards
Jimmy 'Chocolate' Chalfant- drums, percussion, backing vocals, co-lead vocal on "Body Talk"
Kix got my attention in 1983 and though I can't say that I've always been a die hard fan, I know that the "Cool Kids" album is cool. Although I did try, I couldn't quite grow my hair like any of them.
Next post: Hanoi Rocks- Back to Mystery City
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
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