The Kicks offer a modern take on the familiar genre of rock 'n' roll, with influences spanning generations. Borrowing a bit from the Beatles and Pete Yorn, just for starters, "Tonight Changes Everything" stands as an homage to everything rock was, is and will continue to be in the future. The album, to be released on September 25, was mixed by Grammy Award winner Vance Powell, fresh off his latest number one hit with Jack White's "Blunderbuss." "Hard to Believe," the 10th track off the new album, was also recently featured in ABC Family's hit show, "Pretty Little Liars."
"Tonight Changes Everything" avoids the pitfalls common to many rock bands coming out of Nashville area -- instead, the band's twinges of country and slight Southern twang prove some of the tracks' most alluring features. Frontman Jordan Phillips, who doubles on guitar, handles his vocal lines with great attack, showcasing a pitch-perfect falsetto on standout cut, "Hawk Eyes." The chorus of "Standing on Top of the World" could be a number one for the Turtles in another generation, yet even here, when the band could sway into sugary sweet pop, the Kicks resist categorization, with guitarist Adam Starks cutting back into the verse with a rough country hook to keep audiences on their toes. Setting the faux Brit-pop fun of bands like the Killers in the loud and smoky venues fit for the Raconteurs, "Tonight Changes Everything" should connect with any fan of rock 'n' roll.
