Kid With Man Head – Flapjack Hairpiece – Review

Kid With Man Head

Flapjack Hairpiece (Onefoot)
by Scott Hefflon

Most of the bands on the planet claim to be in bands to have fun, first and foremost. Why listening to most them is so much less enjoyable has always troubled me. But anyway… Kid with Man Head have fun, and they are kind enough to include the listener in on the fun. Playing that much loved (and currently much glutted) punk rock stuff, KWMH distinguish themselves by being talented players, yet not making a big show of it. Instead, they entertain. And that they do well. Even during “Cheese Grate Your Face,” you can’t help but sing along ’cause it’s got all the right “yeah, yeah”s, “woo, woo”s, and looping rounds of the chorus. Sure, at other times they swerve from All/SoCal/Epitaph rawk to sound kinda, um, Jersey rock, but ya gotta look at the big picture here. A bit of McRackins, a touch of Down By Law, a few other gratuitous punk references to pad the coming statement: There’s a vocal pronunciation/ arrangement style I can’t peg as anything other than Bon Jovian. Once you’re done groaning, hipster fuckhead, how about admitting JBJ wrote at least a handful of songs you could sing a snatch of without even thinking. The guy may’ve been silly, but he could write. So can Kid With Man Head. That’s my point. I think. Sure, some of the songs run together, but there’s always something worthwhile, something that sticks with you when the song’s over. Vocalist Mike Pimco, aside from having a timeless rock quality to his voice (which is probably what’ll save them from the cut-out bin once this punk popularity contest winds down), lays a bit of effects on his vocals, some kind of chorus processing or something, which adds a nice, rounded texture to it. The closing track, a peppy cover of “Hotel California,” is really not very good, unfortunately, just fast. Many of the nuances are gone, but what the hell do you want? Kid With Man Head are destined to distinguish themselves from the punk pack and survive the eventual (and eagerly awaited) “death” of punk by being a talented band with roots as strong in rock and quality songwriting as in fun, punky energy.