By Austin Kaus
Photo by Jim McFarlane
Billy Yost can be a nice guy.
In conversation, he’s self-depricating. He jokes about poverty and Muppet obsessions but, underneath the Alpha Flight t-shirt, there is fury. Pop-loving, rock and roll fury. He is a State Fair knife that might elicit mockery until it’s pressed against your throat, the shy kid in the library that might burn the place to the ground if he wouldn’t miss all of the books.
It’s no surprise, then, that his band The Kickback has a new album is called Sorry All Over The Place. Do not be lulled into complacency by the very real promises of catchy hooks and soft melodies proposed to and – much to the band’s surprise – willingly produced by Spoon drummer Jim Eno. This album is a combustible and beautiful result of ruthless work ethic and VHS dreams. Think of a box of Swedish Fish as designed by eager military defense contractors. Then, play it loud.
The record opens with the groove machine that is “Sting’s Teacher Years” and slides back down with “When I Die,” which sounds like the band scooped out the insides of an 80s ballad and replaced it with precision ego-driven machinery. (The guitar solo makes me want to wear a necktie just so I can rip it off with great force, grab the knot like the heart of an enemy and drain its joy for my own power. This has happened, and I do not exaggerate, at least 20 times.)
The album continues with compositions that vary in tempo, tone and tenacity without losing a bit of intensity. Hips will shake to “Headhunter” before shifting to sway mode for the soft and desperate lounge remorse of “Nately.” Then comes the bathtub confessional that is “Fanger,” the voice of pained wisdom erupting from Twin Peaks in “White Lodge,” the substitute teacher sermon that is “Little Teach.” Each track is keenly aware of indie rock trappings if only so it can slap them away. The Kickback may remember your Mom’s name, but they’re not making music for her friends.
Before the opening riff of “Scorched Earth Brouhaha,” there’s a laugh of impish innocence. Billy Yost really is a nice guy. He’s sorry about the hearts he broke and the jibes that went too far. His guilt is Catholic and palpable while his self-analysis and musical force are gunpowder packed into an apology shell. It’s Sorry All Over The Place because it finally exploded in a cloud of rock and roll precision. The fallout is ours to savor.
Order “Sorry All Over The Place” on vinyl, compact disc or as mp3s here. Learn more about the band here and find them on Twitter @thekickback.
