Kid Dynamite

Cheap Shots, Youth Anthems (2003)

Scott

"Fuck your fashion show, fake poetic prose, and everything in between. I'm sick of all the hype. No matter how hard I try. I just can't seem to understand the changing of your life." - Kid Dynamite

Is Punknews.org sick? No one has reviewed Kid Dynamite's latest contribution to the Punk Rock scene, "Cheap Shots, Youth Anthems."

I'm not going to dive into a huge bio about the band, you know who they were, you know how influential they were/are/will be, and you know what their members are doing currently.

This compilation of the bands material is a packed disc with twenty-nine songs from compilations, covers, original demo, outtakes, and a live show. Not to mention extensive liner notes and a DVD* that helps finish the touches on this must have collection for any Kid Dynamite fan.

First up is the "Classics," four songs that were tracks only available on various compilations. "Heart A Tact" was the first KD song I ever heard and will always hold a place in my ears. Along with that song "Breakin' A Memory" and "Give ‘m the Ripped One" all follow the lines of a standard Kid Dynamite song – Short, Fast, & LOUD! Dan Yemin describes "Two for Flinching as "Our crowning achievement: verse, chorus, and bridge, all in less than 10 seconds."

Following the compilation tracks are a handful of cover songs from some of the best in the business. They even mention that it took a lot of courage to even attempt these covers. There's two ways to do a cover song, you can either try to sound like the band you're trying to cover or you can apply your band's distinct sound to the original – KD take the former. For the longest time I thought "Rise Above" was a Kid Dynamite song and only recently lead to my discovery of Black Flag. This is hands down my favorite cover song ever and I would hate to diminish the guys in Black Flag but Kid Dynamite perfects the song. "Deny Everything, "I Don't Wanna Hear It," and "Mach Insecurities" done by the Circle Jerks, Minor Threat, and the Dead Kennedy's respectively are all performed top notch. The most surprising cover would be "Hateful" originally by the Clash. Sticking with the same formula for a cover song the band pumps out the best remake of any Clash song I've heard.

The original demo known as "Six Songs with Jay Singing" and the "Demo Outtakes" are the next sections of the record. They're a nice little treat for the fans as you can see how some of your favorite songs like "Never Met the Gooch," "Bookworm," and S.O.S." have progressed from their earliest moments. Some of the tracks hardly even seem like demos once you're used to the band's raw and powerful Punk Rock sound.

Closing out this wonderful supplement to 2003's amazing year in music is seven songs performed live on a radio show. The announcer tends to get a little annoying and the breaks after every song ruin the flow of the set. However, if you're like me and you never got a chance to see this band live this is about as close as you'll get so suck it up for all it's worth. I strongly recommend this for everyone (even if you have all of the b-side songs) as the demos, liner notes, and artwork are worth the price alone.

None More Black & Paint it Black are two phenomenal bands but don't nearly come up to par with the renowned Kid Dynamite and this closing album in their career sheds the final light on just how incredible they were.

*The DVD is just a trailer for their upcoming full length movie.