Researching the Blues

by Redd Kross

Overview

After Jeff and Steven McDonald reconvened Redd Kross in 2006 (with the late-'80s line-up of guitarist Robert Hecker and drummer Roy McDonald), they seemed content to play the occasional festival show or short tour. For Redd Kross fans waiting for more music, it looked like 1997's Show World might be it as far as new albums went. The brothers had a trick up their sleeve, though, and in 2012 they released Researching the Blues, a self-produced album that not only continues their stellar recorded legacy but gives it an electric boost. Not only is it their best-sounding album yet, totally alive and raw, but it contains some of the hookiest songs and most thrilling performances of their almost-35-year career in rock & roll. Not that the brothers are all that old, but it sure sounds like they've tapped into some secret fountain of youth. Jeff McDonald's voice sounds exactly like it always has, maybe even better; the band plays with a fire that any band made up of 20-year-olds would be lucky to tap into, and most of the songs have instant classic status. The hard rock songs like "Researching the Blues" and "Uglier" have the thunderous force that you'd expect from the group, but the best part of the album is the sweet and light power pop songs that form its core. "One of the Good Ones" bops along happily like a mid-period Beatles song, "Dracula's Daughter" is a lovely ballad that shows off the brother's always strong harmony vocals, "Winter Blues" is a chiming folk-rock tune that has an amped-up Byrds influence, and "Meet Frankenstein" has an amazing vocal melody that McCartney would be proud to call his own. It's always been easy to overlook the romantic nature of the band that ran underneath the loud guitars and outfits, but it's always been there and it proudly steps to the front on Researching. The more cynical listeners may call it a mellowing, but that discounts the passion, energy, and power the band invest in the album. In fact, based on how hooky the songs are, how thrilling the performances are, and how great it all sounds, this may be the band's best record yet. If only every band that came back from years of inactivity, came back this strong. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	08/07/2012
Label:	MERGE RECORDS
UPC:	0673855045429

Tracks

1. Researching the Blues
2. Stay Away from Downtown
3. Uglier
4. Dracula's Daughters
5. Meet Frankenstein
6. One of the Good Ones
7. The Nu Temptations
8. Choose to Play
9. Winter Blues
10. Hazel Eyes

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Redd Kross   Primary Artist
Jeff McDonald   Vocals,Guitar
Roy McDonald   Drums
Steven McDonald   Bass,Vocals
Anna Waronker   Vocals (Background)
Robert Hecker   Guitar
Knut Schreiner   Guitar

Technical Credits

Andrew Lynch   Engineer
Roy McDonald   Group Member
Jeff McDonald   Composer,Group Member
Anna Waronker   Composer
Steven McDonald   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Vicki Berndt   Paintings
Maggie Fost   Design
Robert Hecker   Group Member
John Scarpati   Photo Editing
Jonathan Krop   Cover Photo
Lulu White   Portraits
Maria Rice   Mastering Assistant
Charlotte Caffey   Composer
Adam Samuels   Tracking
Jeff Lipton   Mastering