Rad Girlfriend Records – 4 April 2025
This LP sets out to take hold of the bands cumulative sound.
We covered The Kilograms in depth before on TGEFM, but just in case you are saying to yourself, who are The Kilograms, keep reading. If you’re already in the know, please feel free to skip ahead. Composed of former members of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Avoid One Thing, The Bouncing Souls, Newport Secret Six, The Circle City Deacons, and a current touring member of Joan Jett, one could label them a “Super Group”, although they prefer the music to stand on its own. You can hear the influences from the punk, ska, and reggae groups they have been a part of, but don’t expect it to sound like any of them. Made up Joe Gittleman, Michael McDermott, Sammy Kay, Jay Duckworth, and new addition to the group Craig Gorsline.
Right off the bat the first track hits you will some keyboard heavy quick tempo upbeat tones that was not found on the band’s earlier releases. This album opener is also the title track to the album and so it sets the tone for what’s to come. The second song titled “Ya Ya” doesn’t slow down but adds in some chant anthem style chorus lines that is easy for anyone to join in on.
If the more laid-back folksy style tunes you heard on the bands EP released back in February is what you want more of, then “Hard Lines” and “Battles” will satisfy that. The next track “Faith and Love” expands on that sound and adds a little bit of a groovy flair.
More of newly added Gorsline’s fancy keyboard work can be found on ‘Lorelei” along with some cool vocal effects on this fun tune asking to tell me why. They saved the longest and most soul filled powerful folk song for last to wrap things up.
We asked Sammy Kay back in April 2024 when The Kilograms would release a full LP and his response was “When the time is right” and that time is now. Although Jon Bon Jovi didn’t join them this time on a chorus, you can sing along with these sing-a-long friendly tunes and get into deep thought on the other ones. I tried to think of a way to sum up the album. One could say it’s like a toned-down Rancid singing Joe Strummer songs, bon jov!
Likes fine beer and cheap cheese. He has been a DJ, sound mixer for commercials and television, and currently designs motorcycle parts. He also has a habit of creating pastiche style cover songs and changing the chorus to incorporate “Jeff” or “Sorley.” (sigh… it’s true – Jeff)
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