Many artists claim to be genre-defying but end up actually fitting pretty neatly into one or two well-defined and easily identifiable categories. Stoop Kids and their release Already Out of Time, is not one of those. This five-piece band added the tags hiphop, pop, psychedelic, R&B, rap, rock, soul, alternative, doowop, indie, and triphop to their Bandcamp page and that's no exaggeration. Such a mishmash of genres could sound like a mess coming from less skilled minds, but Stoop Kids lay down a well-executed, sophisticated, and truly innovative album.
Already Out Of Time opens with '17:35' that has sounds reminiscent of Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and quickly evolves into a fun, Caribbean-influenced beat (see official video below). 'Padiddle' mixes a romantic big band sound with strings and hiphop. Jazz flies out with psychedelic horns and volume play on 'me' and hiphop sounds take the forefront on 'Velvet Slide,' a song that any fan of Gorillaz should definitely check out. Stoop Kids even take a foray into disco with 'Tucked In.' (Full disclosure: I do not like disco. I love this song.)
The final few tracks of this nine-track release have a common dreamy soundwave running through them, beginning with 'Happy Birthday' with its at-odds lyrics, "I forgot your fucking birthday two years in a row" and advancing into a story about heartbreak and separation with an angst-ridden chorus ("I'm sorry I can't love you anymore"). The dreaminess stays more peaceful on the final two songs, 'Look Around' (listen in on this one, fans of Brian Olive) and, finally, 'i.'
Playful instrumentation and voices are the common thread for this group that embodies a melting pot of genres. If you're someone who thinks nothing new is being done in music, or that modern music is no good, give this album a listen-- Stoop Kids proves naysayers wrong.
You can listen to the whole album for free on YouTube or purchase it on MP3, vinyl, and/or CD at Bandcamp, iTunes, and Amazon.
Stoop Kids upcoming live performances can be found on their calendar here.
