Review Summary: Complexity in Simplicity
Rainbow Kitten Surprise is potentially the strangest name this band could’ve picked. They have no stylistic similarity to other bands with absurd monikers. There are no vocoders or wild electronics (
Black Moth Super Rainbow). There are no cutesy pop anthems. There is, quite frankly, nothing strange. They are simply an excellent indie rock band with some folk-leaning tendencies. Their first offering, Seven + Mary, a joint album and EP, exemplifies that uncomplicated, easy-listening sound.
In fact, RKS’s sound is so smooth and predictable that they appear expendable at first listen. Fortunately, upon closer observation, the band proves their mettle. Their true prowess lies in their expert lyricism and wordplay. Take the standout titular track “Seven”. Its chorus plays out in two parts. The first is a countdown: “Seven, six, five, four, three, two, one / Everybody’s got a name, everybody’s got a number”. The second then captures the song’s melancholy theme of the loss of a lover: “Seven sins, six frames, five for the two of us / Three’s too much if there’s only one love”. Aside from the “two-too” play, the order of numbers encapsulates the desired order of the lost relationship. In contrast, the song’s strife and illusions to infidelity center around deception, unpredictability, and disorder (all common themes in the project) with desperate and disparate voices. While this is the best example, RKS universally packs extreme density and complexity into simple songs.
Sometimes however, that simplicity works to their detriment. The Mary portion of the project was an acoustic EP recorded soon after the band’s formation by just lead singer, Sam Melo, and guitarist and backup vocalist, Darrick “Bozzy” Keller. The acoustic tracks are quite beautiful, such as the simple, catchy “All That And More (Sailboat)”, but they can quickly become repetitive. While at large it never sounds redundant, the project often feels one dimensional and incohesive. The album is best when taken song by song.
Featuring the hit “Devil Like Me”, Seven + Mary proves Rainbow Kitten Surprise is a legitimate and enjoyable band. Their expert lyricism and quality songwriting carry the album, even through its repetitive, predictable moments. At large, the project is beautiful, evoking deep contemplation and melancholy vibes. It is certainly a debut worth attention which promises even more for the future.
Favorite Tracks:
Seven
First Class
Mr. Redundant
All That And More (Sailboat)
Least Favorite Track:
That's My Shit
