The Kicks - Hello Hong Kong

Genre rock Publisher TVT Records External Links TVT

"Power-pop" might be the most misused term in pop music criticism. Jimmy Eat World is a fine band, but nothing like power-pop. New Pornographers are a little bit too quirky to be power-pop. Cheap Trick rocked too hard to be power-pop. I’ve even heard it used to describe Tom Petty, which is beyond me.

So, it was a little surprising to turn on The Kicks' Hello Hong Kong and actually hear legit power-pop. All the details are here: the sunny, naive-to-some-extent lyrics; the ringing, overdriven guitars; the non-stop momentum; the optimism that the idea of a "pop" song with a melody could maybe be a hit.

A good power-pop band can be a little contemplative but not too contemplative. Material Issue, one of the best bands of the genre, always struck me as prime exhibititors of the joys of playing guitar, bass and drums. Material Issue, as we found out as their career progressed, was quite subversive. The Kicks understand that element of it too, recording at Ardent Studios in Memphis. That’s the home of the best and most subversive power-pop band of all, Big Star. The Kicks are somewhat like that.

Sure, the guitars are a little too overdriven and produced to be perfect. But the stoopid (as opposed to stupid) lyrics are fun and enjoyable. For example, on "Mir:" "Cosmonaut Cosmonaut/I want to be an astronaut." That's pointlessly superb and something the average listener will be able to recall almost instantly.

The album is loud, melodic and slick. Critics, in fact, may complain that it's too slick with its ringing, overdriven sound. Each track has the subtlety of a left hook to the jaw. As I see it, while it's slickness will deter those who demand their indie cred, I still sense edginess here.

Does this band really have a dark side? If they do and care to show it on their next record, they will have to tone down the sound and let the lyrics go. It's weird, but their power-pop joyousness might depend on it.