Merge Records
Power-pop back cover
I was a little concerned when I praised the new Redd Kross record, Researching the Blues, that few others would share my enthusiasm, but the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive.
Granted, Chuck Eddy gave it a 6/10, but I disagree with his arguments against it, like the move away from metal—"excising the crunch"—and the lack of pop-culture silliness. He also dismisses their post-Neurotica output as "college rock."
The first video from Blues [below] is pretty cool, too—and I say that as someone who's lived downtown since the 1990s, though I doubt these Southern California natives are referring to Seattle.
The scenario features the band and Jeff McDonald's daughter, Astrid, while the direction was provided by Jeff and Dave Markey, a drummer, composer, and photographer who's worked with Redd Kross, Gumball, and Sonic Youth.
Weird to think that Astrid is older now than her father was when he formed the quartet (originally called Red Cross): he was 15 and his brother, Steven, was 11.
Since Nipper and Schmader recently brought up the subject of KISS covers, it's worth mentioning that Redd Kross covered "Deuce" on Teen Babes from Monsanto, and it isn't bad. Researching the Blues is out now on Merge (CD/LP) and on Burger (cassette). The band plays Chop Suey on Sept 7 (9pm, 21+).
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