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The Kinison

Mortgage is Bank
2003
Fearless

The Kinison - Mortgage is Bank (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Scott
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Fearless Records (link)

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Published on July 4th 2003

The Kinison are Fearless Records' newest signing, and they couldn't escape the Fearless curse. What is the Fearless curse, you ask? It is that no matter what band they sign, the band in question bears at least a passing resemblance to either Bigwig or At The Drive-In, the label's two most successful bands historically.

So which does The Kinison sound like? Well, sort of a conglomeration of both and neither. Contained on this 5-song EP is some fairly straightforward angsty dark punk songs that Bigwig could have written on a more depressed day of band practice. It's not skatepunk, but I'm willing to bet that at one time it was.

The At The Drive-In influence comes in a bit sneakily, found in some guitar riffs dropped here and there [see: "New Way To Dance"] and stacatto vocals with machine gun rapidity [see: "Hey Hey Hey"]. The band also uses a fair bit of screaming in these five tracks, but it doesn't come off as trite, which is beneficial to these Canadians' collective causes. Lyrically, this band doesn't come even close to touching ATDI, but at least they're not directly trying to ape the band's sound like another band on the label [Brazil, anyone?].

There's potential here, but that's about it. Out of the five songs, the only one that leaves a positive imprint on my mind is "The Way I Used To Be," a slow rocker that has some nice singalong parts. Download it below, and see what you think.

Bands like this and Anatomy of a Ghost seem to be the future of Fearless Records, and while both aren't mining any new territory, they are solid additions to a roster that desperately needed some. It's worth a listen.

MP3s
Sorry, I'm A Pushover
New Way To Dance
The Way I Used To Be

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 at 8:48 PM (EST)
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 12, 2003 at 9:43 PM (EDT)
My Score:

I don't think the Kinison sound anymore like Bigwig than any band with guitars, bass, and drums. I do, however, think this album kicks ass. They are incredible live, too.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 at 2:47 PM (EDT)
My Score:

I'm here as a public service. All comments cant be positive. You should thank me.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 at 12:22 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Twat needs to go away.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 7, 2003 at 9:12 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Fuck, I was hoping this was a secret project of that notorious nose candy enthusiast Sam kinison. Maybe Sam singing about coke and hookers. But noooo. That would've been cool. Not this though. I've never felt pain like this before. My ears say fuck you. Now my ears know what child birth feels like.
twat

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 7, 2003 at 3:23 PM (EDT)
My Score:

this band is not even on fearless anymore, they've signed to travis barkers label la salle.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 6, 2003 at 9:39 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Anatomy of a ghost is a cool name for a band. Its too bad the band sucks so much ass.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 5, 2003 at 11:27 PM (EDT)
My Score:

you forgot about the other band that fearless bands end up sounding like. New found glory. For instance keepsake, and Glasseater. Both of those bands were better before.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 5, 2003 at 9:27 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Dear Scotty, i think you are right. I was just listening to the Oil comp, and The Ghost is on it, but yeah they are on Some Records.

Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-07-05 13:02:21
My Score:

Anatomy of a Ghost is bad, do yourself a favor and avoid them like the plague they are.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 5, 2003 at 3:56 AM (EDT)
My Score:

When did the ghost sign to thick? I thought they were still on some records.

-Scotty

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 5, 2003 at 3:07 AM (EDT)
My Score:

The Ghost rocks... but they are on Thick. not Fearless. I know, i know, you kids are talking about Anatamony of a Ghost, but i have never really heard them, so i will just ramble about the ghost. So, i missed them play with the Killing Tree a few weeks ago. That would of been a damn fine show if you ask me. Well, im tired. Talk to yous later

ACD

Posted by irish_joo on 2003-07-05 02:56:02
My Score:

these guys are from California, no where else. not canada, not illinois. and they are better live

Posted by irish_joo on 2003-07-05 02:55:34
My Score:

these guys are from California, no where else. not canada, not illinois. and they are better live

Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-07-05 02:51:48
My Score:

Ok, after a couple more listens this band hasn't grown on me, but rather began to annoy me to the point where I deleted the song. The only good band on this label is Bigwig.

Posted by inagreendase on 2003-07-05 01:09:12
My Score:

oh shit son some bitta 'lliteration in the third graph, word.

Posted by hungryjoe on 2003-07-05 01:03:12
My Score:

I hate this label so fucking much. They screwed me over on mailorder a few years back, and their bands are generally terrible.

Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-07-04 15:57:19
My Score:

The singer's voice is kind of annoying, other than that it's decent.