Kid Liberty - Give Up. Give In. Review

Kid Liberty’s debut record, Fight With Your Fists, was a nice introduction to another band combining hardcore influences with pop-punk jams. Returning on a more amusing, relaxed note, however, Kid Liberty have decided to have some fun with their latest offering, Give Up. Give In.. Clearly made to just be an entertaining offering for fans, this EP includes one new song, a cover of the ever-so-popular “Fuck You,” and two acoustic tracks.

The new track, “Give Me Alan Or Give Me Death,” would fit perfectly on Fight With Your Fists, containing the same aggressive vocal delivery and heavy instrumentation. The song is raw and in your face; it’s fast-paced and doesn’t skip a beat. Sure to leave fans excited for Kid Liberty’s official sophomore record, “Give Me Alan” leaves listeners anxious to hear more new material.

Following this comes the fun cuts. The “Fuck You” cover is very different from the original version, as the stellar guitar play and gruff vocals prove to be an ideal combination here. The dual vocal delivery also adds to the cover, making it even more enjoyable. If you’re a fan of either the original song or this band, this cover will most likely be to your taste. On the other hand, the acoustic version of “The Situation” is entirely different from any song from Kid Liberty’s past – even the original – as the acoustic strumming accents Trey Sexton’s soft, clean vocal performance, proving his genuine skill as a vocalist. Likewise, soft guitar plucks resonate throughout the acoustic “The Suspense Is Killing Me.” As the track picks up, it carries a foot-tapping-effect, and this time, the guitar play of Ben Wesson and Chase Woods really shines.

Clearly, the acoustic tracks are sure to be favorites in Kid Liberty’s discography, for the final minute of “The Suspense Is Killing Me” is the most memorable piece of music the band has composed. The new track will also excite fans for what comes next for the band, and the Cee Lo cover may turn some heads as well. Although clearly just a fun EP, Give Up. Give In. leaves the floor open for Kid Liberty’s next effort, which is sure to be a solid continuation from Fight With Your Fists....full text When Fight With Your Fists came out last year, I was pretty stoked. The album from Dallas band Kid Liberty was a perfect blend of pop punk and hardcore, delivering snarling intensity combined with some seriously catchy hooks, creating an album that easily made our list of the Top 10 Punk Albums for 2010 - an album still on heavy rotation here now.

So, I was pretty stoked with the announcement that the band has a four-song EP, Give Up. Give In., due out in July. If nothing else, it's four songs to remind us why we love the band so much, and help us bide our time until the next album.

Unfortunately, in this case it's only two songs.

OK, let's focus on what I love about this EP - the first two tracks. The opener, "Give Me Alan Or Give Me Death" is exactly what I love about this band - catchy vocals, brutal hooks, reeling riffs and just a sheer ability to be simultaneously in your face and unapologetically poppy without sacrificing any hardcore credibility. It's a perfect formula.

The second track is probably the most ambitious move for the EP, though - a cover of Cee Lo Green's "Fuck You," which is probably one of the most perfectly crafted songs in recent times (admit it - you love it), but they manage to pull it off by just having fun with it, dropping reeling guitars into the mix and simply doing what Kid Liberty does best.

It's the last two songs on Give Up. Give In. that lose me, and that's not really the band's fault or mine. It's just that they round the EP out with a pair of acoustic versions of previously released tunes - "The Situation" from Fight With Your Fists and "The Suspense Is Killing Me" from 2008's Never Say Never. And while the band has every right to do what they're doing, busting out a pair of acoustic versions that showcase their lyrics, it comes across as a little wussified for what I want out of the band - which is more fast, frantic material....full text