Review: Redd Kross - Researching The Blues

The very short quiz version of this review: Did you like the Redd Kross albums Phaseshifter or Show World? If you answered "yes," you will like Researching The Blues. If you answered "no," what the hell is wrong with you?

Redd Kross are the owners of a hard rocking crazily melodic form of power pop in a Cheap Trick meets The Shazam style, and if you are somehow unfamiliar with their output, wow, do you have a treat in store for you. The title track and the great single "Stay Away From Downtown" kick the album off in a blistering style, though no matter how loud they get they can still find room to fit in the odd "Sha la la la, la la la la la" when they need to.

Other standouts include the hard edged "Uglier," and the short and snappy "Meet Frankenstein." My favorite tune on the album is the poppy "One Of The Good Ones" replete with hand claps, a terrific bass line, and chiming guitars which are only matched by the chiming backing vocals. Sublime pop music making.

My only complaints about the album are 1) Its so damn short: It has been awhile since the last album, and ten songs doesn't exactly provide the fix fanatics have been longing for, and 2) I missed a top notch anthemic ballad along the lines of Show World's "Girl God."

Basically, I'm saying "more please." I don't think anyone should be too pissed about that.

Grade: B+/A-