The first one is always free! Redd Kross has released the first single from their seventh full-length album, Beyond the Door, out August 23rd on Merge Records. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered the eponymous song isn’t about the 1974 film where The Nanny gets possessed by Satan. Although they do namedrop The Nanny once. Along with the Alice Cooper Band.
Starting with a good dose of “yeah yeah yeahs,” Beyond the Door combines Redd Kross’ own inimitable sound with just about all of brothers Jeff and Steven McDonald’s musical influences from Cheap Trick, to 70s bubblegum, to the Beatles. The Beatle-y sound is especially evident in a sort of “yellow matter custard dripping from a dead dog’s eye” poetic chain of interesting words. Along with the familiar scratchy rock voice, there are moments of ethereal harmonies that are especially pretty. In fact, this may just be Redd Kross’ prettiest song to date, and that covers 40 years of rocking out.
With Dale Crover of the Melvins’ solid drumming, additional guitar from Buzzo and Jason Shapiro, plus Gere Fennelly on piano, the title track is both danceable and head-bangable with a catchy hook you can sing along to all day. I listened to this song on repeat for at least a half an hour while I wrote this, and I’m not sick of it yet.
Love love love Redd Kross, and shared!