Review Summary: For those of you that though any Glassjaw release couldn't be just average, think agian. While this release is not near as strong as any new(er) Glassjaw material, it gives you something heavy to listen to, and gives you a taste of Glassjaw's roots.
One of Glassjaw’s lesser known works is the “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang EP (KKBB).” This record came out in 1997 and if it wasn’t re-released it would not have made itself known since there was only around 1000 copies made for the original pressing. Although this KKBB is not near as strong as “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence,” or “Worship & Tribute,” it still shows the roots of Glassjaw and what their original sound sounded like.
I own the re-release and the recording quality is fantastic and even though it was self released it definitely sounds great and is not as bad as say their “Impossible Shot” release. I haven’t heard the original recordings of this EP but I can guarantee that the re-release obviously sounds better and would be a better buy, and is also a lot easier to find then the original release. KKBB is mostly anger, like “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence.”
Black Coffee the opener is no exception. It hits you full force with Daryl Palumbo yelling and power chords and cymbals clashing in the background, and the lyrics tell the whole story (as they should.) The final lyrics sums up the whole song, “Pretending it hurts you/I will take what's mine/And I will try to stay mundane.” The song finishes off with the same power chords and drum beats as the beginning, and prepares you for what lies ahead.
The Snow Veil is the shortest song on the EP, and is the most average. Although Palumbo’s voice makes me know it’s Glassjaw, if you took away his vocals it doesn’t really resemble Glassjaw at all. It’s a mediocre song, and is one of the worst Glassjaw songs IMO. A song that Glassjaw must really like a lot (since it can still be found in their set lists) is
Star Above My Bed it opens up with some guitar feedback and some whispering and then the song kicks right in. The song almost sounds like a cross between the metalcore song, and a nu-metal song. It is odd because although it does sound very good, it does not sound like traditional Glassjaw. One of the best songs on the EP is
Pink Roses And The Graveyard. It is a very, very heavy song. Although they are completely different songs, the first guitar riff sounds like that of “Pink Roses,” off of Glassjaw’s “Worship & Tribute,” which is interesting considering the similarity in track titles. This track also sounds like it could be called Nu-Metal but there are still some metalcore and some even straight forward metal elements that keep it from being Nu-Metal. The final track on the EP is
Vermont Connection. It is the longest track on the record clocking in at 7:12 and is the closest thing to a epic you’re gonna get. Not as great as the their epic song “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence,” but it gets the job done. Very powerful song, that sounds more like “EYEWTKAS,” than the rest, which is perfect cause it gets you a sense of Glassjaw’s transition to their newer sound.
Overall, “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” is a decent release from Glassjaw, and while it is not phenomenal like “EYWTKAS,” or “W&T” it gives you a better respect for the musicianship and hard work that Glassjaw put on their later releases. This EP will probably not be accepted by a listener just getting into Glassjaw, this seems as though only the fans of their old material will enjoy this.
3 / 5
Recommended Tracks:
Black Coffee
Star Above My Bed
Vermont Connection
PROs
Great vocals
Decent song structures
CONs
Not near as technical as later releases
The musicianship isn’t as strong.
