Kiwi Jr.’s punchy new record, Cooler Returns, delivers a Kamehameha wave of hooks capable of planetary destruction. Of its thirteen tracks, even its weakest is more powerful than Raditz. If you are looking for a jangly record that reminds you a little of The Kinks if the Davies were raised by a sentient PlayStation 2, look no further.
What strikes me most plainly about Kiwi Jr.’s new offering is how unapologetically Rock and Roll it is. In a world where the ’80s and ’90s cliches provide ample room for bad songwriters to hide behind genred nostalgia, Kiwi Jr.’s songs are brilliantly written and refuse all things easy and trendy.
With a preference for style over substance, Kiwi Jr.’s irreverent surrealist imagery feels effortless against its expertly crafted and simple arrangements. The mix is full of blown-out, busted distortion that gives the illusion of the record being homemade without losing any intelligibility of the lyrics, melodies or instruments. I’m a massive fan of their use of harmonica. A bold choice that could have been cringe-worthy comes off tastefully.
Of the album’s singles, the title track was the first to catch my ear. A big squishy band compressed to high heavens with a male singer whose style sits somewhere between singing and talking, one might be tempted to draw comparisons to The Strokes. I’m sure that would be apt if the song didn’t contain 1500 sections, each one with a better hook than the one before it. It almost feels wasteful how many great hooks Kiwi Jr. is able to pack into a song. Cooler Returns ends with a guitar pounding roots and fifths in the most delicious way with other parts weaving countermelodies lazily give it an “American Girl” by Tom Petty ending. What a friggin’ bop.
B-sides that catch my attention are “Highlights of 100” and “Only Here for a Haircut”, both of which contain sections of juicy power-pop hooks and beats. The drum sounds and parts really shine here.
Cooler Returns is the kind of record that sobers us up and reminds up how much great rock music remains unmade. Kiwi Jr. has produced a classic that will remain on heavy rotation in my music collection for some time.