Release Date: September 25, 2020 Genre: Pop Rock, Indie Rock, Folk Rock Label: Fearless Records Leesburg, Virginia’s My Kid Brother has been leaving their mark in the industry the past four years, which saw the band earlier this year sign to Fearless Records for the release of the newest collection of music. Fast forward six months and the rock band is ready to release their self-titled follow up to their 2017 debut album, Baltimore Street Rat. My Kid Brother is made up of members Christian Neonakis, who handles lead vocals, guitar, and bass, Piano Whitman tackling the piano, synths, and backing vocals, Dylan Savopoulos on guitar and backing vocals, Richard Smith on both bass and guitar, and finally Sam Athanas behind the drum kit. The band’s brand new effort was produced by Noah Gersh and Jamie Schefman of the alternative rock band Partybaby.
Throughout the band’s brand new EP, My Kid Brother fuses piano and synths with insatiable melodies, quirky, but massive guitars, infectious harmonies, that is topped off with intertwining male and female vocals. The self-titled opens with the track, “Daydream,” sees the use of falsetto vocals, and everything about the track, but especially the piano's infectiousness leaves you wanting more. The opening track is about counter-culture and not being afraid to break social norms. In some way, everyone has been cast out socially, and that idea should bring people together empathetically. Musically, “Good News” features the most dynamic range on the self-titled EP, blending a little bit of every sound you hear on the EP into one, slightly eccentric track. Nearing the middle of the self-titled My Kid Brother pulls out no stops with the anthemic track, “Smile (Losing My Mind)” which is a large-sounding track with its massive sounding guitars, impressive bass line, and its hard-hitting drums.
My Kid Brother’s genuine lyricism continues on the track, “Ain’t That Cool.” The track came about after Christian Neonakis became obsessed with the song “Higher and Higher” by Jackie Wilson, and wanted to make a song in a similar style. He wasn’t liking anything he was creating musically at the time, so inevitably decided to write a song about how frustrated he was trying to write a song instead. “Pastels” is driven by Piano Whitman’s performance on the piano and overall, one of the slowest songs on the entire EP. The EP’s closing track, “Native Tongue” opens with a simple, yet effective distorted guitar riff while the song builds around it. The track was co-written with the EP’s producers Noah and Jamie while the band was in Los Angeles for the first time. “Native Tongue” was inspired by the feeling of being away from home, while being in a city that feels foreign. It’s more about learning how to understand new experiences, yet staying honest with yourself. The track and EP end with the track picking back up with an unfamiliar tune, which I feel is more of a huge tease for what is yet to come from My Kid Brother in the future as the EP leaves you wanting more after that sixth and final track hits its climax.
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