What do the Go-Go's, Black Flag, Tenacious D, and Bad Religion all have in common? California power pop band Redd Kross. Honestly, they're a few clicks shy of being the musical equivalent of "The Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon." Ok, maybe not quite, but seriously.
If you want to talk about an under appreciated, underrated band, look no further than Redd Kross. If you've never heard of them, it's a shame, especially seeing as how they've been around since 1980 -- or 1978 if you include an early incarnation of the band called The Tourists. The band released six studio albums before slipping into the unfortunate "indefinite hiatus" zone following a tour behind their 1997 album, Show World.
I wish I could claim I've been with this band for a while, but I didn't learn about them until about a month ago. So, for those who have yet to hear a note of Redd Kross, I highly recommend giving "Stay Away From Downtown," the first single from their first album in nearly 15 years (cover of that album is above). If you want an example of one of the finest cuts of rock 'n' roll -- let alone power pop -- in recent years, look no further than this track. Whenever I hear it, I can't help but feel like this is what The Beatles would have sounded like had they really turned up those tube amps and let loose -- if the bite had come more from attitude and not psychedelics. It's the embracing, undeniable spirit of punk without the weight of the politics. All of that is to say "Stay Away From Downtown" is one of the best songs of 2012 -- and, I'll be bold, ever.
MP3: Download "Stay Away From Downtown" courtesy of KEXP here.
Redd Kross' latest album, Researching the Blues, is out now on Merge.
Redd Kross
Official Site
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