The Kick

Item: Last Look
Author: Phil Nichols

Last Look

(2003)

Reviewed by Phil Nichols

Discogs Bandcamp

Label Dim Sum RecordsDecapolisJanuary 2004

alternative rock hard rock punk

"What we are is what you need." Thus begins the debut album from Florida rock-punk veterans, The Kick. I had no idea exactly how true that statement was when I first picked up a copy of 'Last Look' out of curiosity at last year's Purple Door. I had been disappointed with some of my other purchases and so I set out to find something exciting, something different, something interesting. Mere seconds after I put the disc in my cd player I knew that they were just what I needed.

The first thing that draws you into this album is the energy. It starts off with "W." a fast paced hybrid of in-your-face punk intensity and the robust punch of stripped-down rock n' roll vigor. Gritty guitars, bouncing bass lines, and pulsating pounds of a powerful practiced percussionist all mix beautifully to back up the unique vocal styling of Louis DeFabrizio (ex. Dear Ephesus, Tenderfoot). Their high-energy opener does an excellent job of setting the stage for the rest of the album. Next up comes the band's radio single "North Is Up", a song that reveals the rock side of the Kick and also gives a glimpse at the influence that bands like Pearl Jam had on the band. The Kick show off some of their punk rock roots as well, with an explosive cover of the Dead Boys song "Sonic Reducer". Another standout track is "Hail the King", a song of praise to "the king that takes us back" when "there's no reason". This song has a fabulous instrumental interlude that builds to the powerful climax that continues to give me chills every time I listen to it. 'Last Look' ends on a calmer note with "North Is Up (reprise)", a very serene song with softer, almost whispered vocals over melodic instrumentation, which eventually fades to the end of The Kick's debut.

Now, I will admit that 'Last Look' really doesn't bring anything new or extraordinary to the table, but it is a breath of fresh air when compared to many other recent releases. Overall, this is an excellent album. It is produced well (but not overproduced); the songwriting flows well with the music; Louis has a great voice for this genre; and the variation in the tempos of songs keeps 'Last Look' interesting from start to finish. If you are a fan of The Clash, The Who, Tom Petty, or Pearl Jam, then you will probably want to check this album out. I look forward to hearing more from the Kick in the future, but until then I expect this album to be in heavy rotation for many days to come.

3.5/4