If it was 1993, this would be called emo. But a lot has changed in scenes and sounds since then, so I won’t go there. Instead, I’m going to call Kid You Not elastic punk. Here’s To Feelin’ Good All The Time is constantly shifting complex moods but it always stays strong, dynamic and somewhat positive. It’s about our relationship with the world around us and the broken hearts caused by the crushing weight of the world. The lyrics in all 10 songs follow this theme: the uphill push against forces beyond your control. Underlying that desperation, though, there’s a power-of-music positivity that shines through. The lyrics know they are heavy-handed and futile. It’s self-knowing, but cathartic. There is power in words, but that power comes from letting loose more often than it causes real societal change. It understands where it lies in the bigger picture.
Even the pacing feels like an uphill hike. It’s midtempo and plodding. It’s punk rock, for sure, but the tempo fits more with head bobbing emo and post-hardcore than circle pit punk. I could pull a dozen lyrics snippets to emphasize that point, but instead I’ll just list song titles: Last of a Lost Generation, Doomscrolling, Fire Sale -- there's a clear tone here. But it’s often countered with gang vocals and other elements that make you smile as you listen, even when it’s discussing an evil world. While I used the e-word in my opening, it’s forceful music. I meant that in the old school “emotional” context, not the marketing term of the early ‘00s. This is passionate music played in a rough and tumble way. The syncopation of the refrain in “Last of a Lost Generation” highlights that personal element, while later “I’m Not Superstitious, But I Am a Little Stitious” really nails the tone. It’s about fighting hard, but not giving up. It’s about slowing down with age without losing your way. Grabbing a snippet: :We bend ‘til we break but it’s by design.”
I often think of this sound as “Fest punk.” It’s gruff, singalong, and well-suited to a dark bar or basement show. But Kid You Not do bring a little more variety to the table. It’s not just power chords and singalongs. The tempo changes and generally slower vibe give more depth and drama without crossing the line into theatrical or inauthentic. Here’s To Feelin’ Good All The Time is a call to action for the everyperson who is feeling beaten down by the world, but keeps pulling themselves back up.
