I might as well start this review off by saying I have never liked Kids Like Us. There is nothing about their music that enthralls me. Actually their moshy "skater jams" annoy the living piss out of me with their juvenile lyrics and token mosh parts. There has been countless stories of lame debauchery that this band has caused on the road that has always left a sour taste in my mouth. And even though I tend to leave this type of gossip out of my reviews, and even more so when doing a dissertation of a band's work, some things I just can't let go of. I just don't like Kids Like Us.
So I'm probably the last person that should be reviewing the re-release of their 2005 debut album, The 80's are Dead but nevertheless here we are. Maybe Kids Like Us have gotten better since this album has came out but I doubt it. Anyhow, Kids Like Us play somewhat fast hardcore that is centered around the big gigantic mosh parts more than anything else. And they aren't even good mosh parts, it's those mosh parts with mosh parts slow dirges that drive me absolutely bat shit when I hear them.
I don't even know why this band tries anymore. All their songs sound exactly the same and they cover the same ground; fast beginning, mosh part, some sort of tough guy bravado chat, fast part, mosh part, outro. Every song. The topics of the songs themselves are child's play. There's songs about annoying people while skating, Jason Voorhees, or just calling people out Kids Like Us apparently have some sort of beef with. Even the token "pop-punk" about bros makes me want to kick kittens. Oh joy there's even some live stuff tacked on the end of this CD where the singer keeps telling people to "move the fuck up". Jesus, dude, shut up.
I wouldn't recommend Kids Like Us to anyone. However, if you are new to hardcore and just can't get enough of your Casey Jones CDs then Kids Like Us is probably in your top 8 already and I'm not telling you anything new. So dust off your flatbrim, talk tough on the Internet and listen to Kids Like Us. I personally never want to hear this band again.
