Kid Gulliver - "24 Hours"

It was just a few weeks ago that I was thinking that it had been a while since we had heard from Kid Gulliver. I was like, "I miss that band!" And when I checked on it, "a while" had been two years. So it was a very pleasant surprise to receive the email about a new Kid Gulliver single. When it comes to infectious power pop with an indie rock charm, Kid Gulliver is about as good as it gets. Simone Berk and David Armillotti formed this band back in 2012 and have not only kept it going ever since but also honed their craft more and more with every release. With Matt Duval and Mark Enet now holding down the rhythm, Kid Gulliver is sounding as good as ever! Hearing new single "24 Hours" is like re-connecting with an old friend and instantly feeling that comforting connection. The band really puts the power in its pop on this track. The guitars are really cranked up, and I love how the musical oomph of this number perfectly complements the plaintive sweetness of Simone Berk's vocals. This is such classic fare for power pop as the lyrics reflect on how torturous it can be to separated from someone you love. And Berk has such a gift for singing songs like this in a way that you genuinely feel them. In the hands of a lesser band, this song could induce eye-rolling. But when its' coming from Kid Gulliver, you feel it in your heart because you remember being in those shoes yourself. If you love power pop, it's because of songs like this.

-L.R.

https://kidgulliver1.bandcamp.com/track/24-hours
https://open.spotify.com/album/79zgbwpUa2VTBnt6JVZLsq
https://www.facebook.com/kidgulliver/

Kid Gulliver - Kiss & Tell

This is a milestone post for this blog and Kid Gulliver. Today, the Boston power pop standouts join the F & L ten-timers club — which is especially impressive considering that my first KG review was only a little more than three years ago! Basically this means that this band has released a lot of great music over the past few years, and that continues with a new mini-album called Kiss & Tell. As you may recall, "Kiss & Tell" was also the name of an excellent single released early this year. The album release coincides with a brand-new single titled "Because of You." 

As always, new music from Kid Gulliver means we power pop fans are in for a treat. I continue to be blown away by the way songwriter/guitarist David Armillotti and lead singer Simone Berk excel as a creative partnership. It can't be easy to trust another person to voice your deepest, darkest thoughts. And it can't be easy to sing another person's words as if they were your own. Yet for these two, this creative approach produces pure gold. Both artists do their finest work yet on this album. While I won't quite call this a concept album, a lot of Armillotti's lyrics are brutally realistic and deeply reflective in examining the trials and tribulations of adult love. There are not a lot of "uppers" on this album. But let's be real: if romantic love always went smoothly, power pop music might not need to exist! This is an album filled with wonderfully bitter pop songs which are fully realized musically, lyrically, and vocally. Songs like "You're Gonna Cry" and "You've Lost Your Shine" are pretty much what you'd expect based on the titles. "Because of You" is the complete opposite. It has to be a sweet love song, right? To the contrary, it's about regretting the person you've become due to love. This track, which alternates between a driving power pop verse and a dreamy chorus, was a fine choice for the album's third single (following "Kiss & Tell" and "Nothing But Trouble"). What really ties the album together, though, is that Armillotti is a master at writing perfect pop songs and Berk is a master at singing them. If you like well-crafted, melody-driven songs with plenty of guitar punch, you have come to the right place. "I've Got a Picture of You" is jangly power pop at its most beautifully bittersweet. "I Like Your Hair" could pass for a long-lost Bangles hit. If there were actually a power pop textbook, "(You're a) Living Lie" would be in it. 

Self-produced by Armillotti and Berk, Kiss & Tell is a nifty little album from one of the power pop world's most prolific and consistent bands. I look forward to writing another ten Kid Gulliver reviews and then some!  

-L.R.

https://kidgulliver1.bandcamp.com/album/kiss-and-tell-2
https://www.facebook.com/kidgulliver
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2NpeBNqfBbOGmEAgJmw1XX

Kid Gulliver - "Kiss and Tell"

It's always an event in Faster and Louder Land when Kid Gulliver releases new music. My first KG review dates back nearly three years (seems longer than that!), and I have had the pleasure since then to report on another five singles, an EP, and a compilation album. "Kiss and Tell," the band's newest single, is a teaser for a forthcoming album of the same name. In typical Kid Gulliver fashion, "Kiss and Tell" is two-and-a-half minutes of absolutely perfect pop. This song sounds like '70s power pop by way of the later '60s, and it's an ear-pleaser in every respect. The melody running throughout the song is so exquisitely tuneful that I still find it running through my head long after the music stops. Simone's vocal is wonderfully bittersweet, and David puts on a guitar clinic full of twists and surprises. And how about that bass line! "Kiss and Tell" is another bona fide hit from a band that never misses. It will become widely available January 23rd, but you can purchase it now from Bandcamp for just one dollar.

-L.R.

https://kidgulliver1.bandcamp.com/track/kiss-and-tell
https://www.facebook.com/kidgulliver
https://www.instagram.com/kidgulliver/
Kid Gulliver linktree

Kid Gulliver - "Nothing But Trouble"

Having documented its amazing run of 2020-21 singles on last year's wonderful collection Kismet, Kid Gulliver is primed to begin another run of hot singles action. Out on Red On Red Records, new single "Nothing But Trouble" is yet another earworm track from this Boston-based power pop sensation. Written by guitarist David Armillotti, this song tackles a timeless theme in pop music: being on the wrong side of a one-sided relationship. This is probably Kid Gulliver's punkiest track to date -- coming on with an upbeat energy that perfectly balances the utter despair of the lyrics. Instantly this song will have you bobbing your head or doing a little dance in your workspace. For the rest of the day, you'll be humming that melody. Simone Berk, in her usual manner, sings the lyrics in such a way that you'll truly feel them. So then: is "Nothing But Trouble" a feelgood pop hit or a devastating reflection on the pain that love can cause us? In the grand tradition of the greatest pop songs, it's both! If you haven't started working on your summer playlist, here's your track 1!

-L.R.

https://kidgulliverred.bandcamp.com/track/nothing-but-trouble
https://redonredrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kidgulliver
https://www.facebook.com/redonredrecords

Kid Gulliver - Kismet

Now here is a wonderful idea: following its amazing run of six digital singles/EPs dating back to early 2020, Kid Gulliver has packaged all of this material onto a nifty compact disc! Out on Red On Records, Kismet is officially Kid Gulliver's debut album after seven years+ as a band. You can call it a singles compilation, a greatest hits collection, or a "How I spent the global pandemic" project. Regardless, it's a neat thing for all of these tracks to finally appear on a physical release that you can hold in your hands and pop into a CD player. The album consists of the entirety of KG's recent Gimme So Go! EP plus the digital singles "Susie Survived Chemotherapy", "i wanna be a popstar", "Carousel", "Beauty School Dropout", and "Boy in a Bubble". It's rounded out with a couple of deep cuts from earlier EPs for a total of 11 tracks. Taken as a single album, Kismet is a wonderful showcase for how great of a band Kid Gulliver is. I'm not a format snob by any means, but there is still something really cool about having a physical release from a band you really like. So when you're conversing with your friends about the best present-day power pop bands and you want to make your case for Kid Gulliver, all you have to do is pull out this CD and let the music do the talking! It's hard for me to pinpoint standout tracks since most of these tunes were stand-alone indie radio hits. But I will say that the band's cover of The Bee Gees' classic "I Started a Joke" continues to take my breath away. And the brand-new music video for "Stupid Little Girl" is an absolute hoot! If catchy power pop with smart, funny lyrics and exceptional vocals sounds good to you, now is an optimal time to hop on the Kid Gulliver bandwagon!

-L.R.

https://kidgulliverred.bandcamp.com/album/kismet
https://kidgulliver1.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kidgulliver
https://www.facebook.com/redonredrecords/

Kid Gulliver - Gimme Some Go!

Following its amazing run of singles in 2020-21, Kid Gulliver has finally given us a bigger taste of its musical talents. The Boston-based pop group has released a four-song EP called Gimme Some Go! on Red On Red Records. What I like about this release is that it shows multiple sides of Kid Gulliver. It leads with a cover of the Bee Gees' classic "I Started A Joke". It's pretty ballsy to take on a song as perfect as "I Started A Joke", and I have to hand it to Kid Gulliver here. Rather than try to top the original (impossible!), the band chose to completely transform it. If you were not aware of the Bee Gees version, you could easily mistake this for a Kid Gulliver original! It's got a new wave/power pop feel to it, and Simone Berk's approach to the lead vocal is unexpected in the most wonderful way. This, my friends, is how you do a cover song! The video for the song (embedded below) is a real hoot. It's a throwback to all of those old school "performance clip" music videos, and there's a very special guest star appearing on bass! 

Having set such a high bar for the rest of the EP, Kid Gulliver follows through with three excellent original songs. The haunting "Lila Dreams" brings to mind early '80s U.K. indie rock and weaves a sad tale of quiet despair. The interplay between David Armillotti's guitar and Lee Harrington's bass on this track is nothing short of stunning. "Gimme Some Go!" is the real surprise of this release. Who knew Kid Gulliver could do ska --  and do it well?! To close out the EP, "Stupid Little Girl" is a jangly power pop number that you might describe as "vintage" Kid Gulliver. Let it be said that the world can always use more pop songs which illuminate the imprudence of falling in love with a serial killer. Being a particular fan of well-crafted dark humor, I find myself in awe of Armillotti's lyrics and Berk's matter-of-fact treatment of them. In a just world, this song would be all over the radio! 

I must concur with Ralph Rivera -- Kid Gulliver somehow manages to get better with every new release! Gimme Some Go! is full of pleasant surprises and truly splendid songs. Armillotti and Berk as a songwriting and vocal tandem are on some kind of roll. More, please!

-L.R.

https://kidgulliverred.bandcamp.com/
https://kidgulliver1.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kidgulliver
https://www.facebook.com/redonredrecords/

Kid Gulliver - "Boy In A Bubble"

There aren't many sweeter phrases in the English language than "new Kid Gulliver single"! The Boston foursome has been on fire with its singles over the last couple of years. Its latest, "Boy In A Bubble" , is available now from the always wonderful Red On Records. Again Kid Gulliver delivers a should-be radio hit that combines ear candy melodies with tremendous lyrical substance. The feel of this track is a little bit different from some of the band's recent singles. My man Ralph Rivera compares it to some of The Cure's pop hits, and I'd say he's dead-on. It has a beautifully melancholic vibe to it featuring serene melodic guitars that blend perfectly with Simone's dreamy vocals. Lyrically, the song was inspired by the forced isolation brought on by the pandemic last year. This is a song that almost anyone will be able to relate to, but I imagine it will especially hit you hard if you live alone. Those hooks lines "Oh, how I wish I was kissed by the sun today/Oh, how I wish I was kissed by anyone today" definitely evoke the heyday of black-clad post-punk pop. And a deeper dive into David's lyrics finds him articulating the malaise of COVID isolation with chilling accuracy:

Electric light provides no warmth/
Two plastic arms that cannot love/
The sterile air I cannot smell/
The clock keeps time for nothing

That pretty much nails it, doesn't it? "Boy In A Bubble" is a haunting song, but a beautiful one as well. Part of the appeal of Kid Gulliver is the way David trusts Simone to bring his lyrics to life. The words and voice prove equally important. That, my friends, is true musical chemistry. This is a song about loneliness that will make you feel less alone in the world. In my book, it's Kid Gulliver's best single yet. And now I can't stop imagining David with big hair in the '80s!

-L.R.

https://kidgulliverred.bandcamp.com/track/boy-in-a-bubble
https://kidgulliver1.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kidgulliver
https://www.facebook.com/redonredrecords/

Kid Gulliver - "Beauty School Dropout"

Here's something I will never tire of: great pop songs from Kid Gulliver! "Beauty School Dropout" is the Boston foursome's new single on Red on Red Records. And no, it's not a cover of the showtune from Grease. Kid Gulliver's "Beauty School Dropout" is an original song written by guitarist David Armillotti. In typical Kid Gulliver fashion, it delivers a great mix of power pop ear candy and lyrical substance. I love the sound of this track - it's got an early '80s new wave pop vibe to it. It kind of reminds me of a Vapors song with the way the bass totally pops in the mix. And in terms of melodies, I don't think it's possible to write a catchier tune. This song is an A-grade earworm! As usual, Simone does a wonderful job of putting voice to David's thoughtful words. This song, while telling a singular sad tale, offers a great deal of commentary on the superficiality of the "beauty" industry and society's restricted definition of what it means to be beautiful. In a better world (or a bygone era), this song would be somewhere on the dial every time you turned on your car radio. Kid Gulliver's hot streak continues!

-L.R.

https://kidgulliverred.bandcamp.com/
https://kidgulliver1.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kidgulliver/

Kid Gulliver - "Carousel"

 

What a year it has been for Simone Berk! Already she has co-written and sung lead on WhistleStop Rock's single "Queen of the Drive-In", recorded an extraordinary version of "He Knows I Love Him Too Much" for the Goffin & King Foundation ISO BOOTH Cover Competition (she won!), and released a couple of tremendous singles with her power pop band Kid Gulliver. Now we can add a new Kid Gulliver music video to all of this excitement. "Carousel" was originally released in 2018 as part of Kid Gulliver's SPREE EP. The band decided to bring it back this fall as its latest single, and a brand-new video has been produced for the occasion. On the heels of the more straight-forward power pop of "Susie Survived Chemotherapy" and "i wanna be a pop star", "Carousel" is a dreamy and quite beautiful number. I love how the pretty melodies and tenderness of Berk's vocal only heighten the melancholy of David Armillotti's lyrics. The contrast between childhood innocence and adult disillusionment is a timeless theme in art, and here Kid Gulliver explores it in a moving and compelling way. It's a dandy little pop song that absolutely merited a rebirth in 2020. If you like what you hear, I recommend checking out the full EP!

-L.R.

https://kidgulliver1.bandcamp.com/track/carousel
https://www.facebook.com/kidgulliver/
http://www.kidgulliver.com/

Kid Gulliver - "i wanna be a pop star"

Having already released one of this year's most delightful singles in "Susie Survived Chemotherapy", Boston's Kid Gulliver is back for an encore! "i wanna be a pop star" is another perfect shot of power pop that brings together the best elements of '60s pop, early '80s new wave, and '90s alternative rock. Featuring the songwriting talents of David Armillott and the magnificent voice of Simone Berk (Sugar Snow), Kid Gulliver is all about timeless melodies and choruses you can't help singing along with. "i wanna be a pop star" is my kind of pop song for sure. I love how it pairs the sweetest vocals and melodies with lyrics that could not be more bitter and sarcastic. Armillott's indictment of the superficiality of pop stardom and the absurd idolatry it inspires is very much on point. This song delivers an irresistible sing-along hook, and in an alternate universe Kid Gulliver probably would be pop stars. Of course I speak of an alternate universe where fame and radio airplay were actually based on musical talent. This track was produced by Brian Charles at Zippah Studios in Brighton, Massachusetts, and it sounds absolutely amazing. Power pop is a genre made for the three-minute single. Kid Gulliver are quickly turning into masters of the form.



-L.R.

https://kidgulliver1.bandcamp.com/track/i-wanna-be-a-pop-star
https://www.facebook.com/kidgulliver

Kid Gulliver - "Susie Survived Chemotherapy"

The main reason I do this blog is to turn people onto bands they might like. But sometimes it works the other way around where you all help me discover great music! It was Justine Covault who sent Kid Gulliver in my direction, and right away I knew this was my kind of band. In fact, I'm kind of embarrassed that I've been unaware of this group for so long! This is so my cup of tea! Kid Gulliver has been releasing music since 2014 and plays a brand of power pop that's inspired by bits and pieces of '60s pop, '70s punk, '80s new wave, and '90s alt-rock. This band features some well-established players in the Boston rock scene such as guitarist/songwriter David Armillotti (Cookiecutter Girl, Hall Of Mirrors), lead singer Simone Berk (Sugar Snow), and bassist Eric Otterbein (The Deep State, Low Frequency Situation, The Composites). The group recently released a new digital single called "Susie Survived Chemotherapy" that was co-written by Armillotti and Berk. This is a really terrific pop song driven by a melody you'll have a hard time getting out of your head. I dig the nicely contrasting punchy rhythm guitar and melodic leads, and Berk's vocal is sweet, likable, and absolutely perfect for the song. I'm always a sucker for a song that tells a story - especially one like this that takes some dark subject matter and manages to fill it with hope, empathy, and ultimate triumph. And don't we need more of all of these things in the world? As Boston Groupie News so astutely put it, "This should be on every radio, if only radio were good."

In the wake of hearing "Susie Survived Chemotherapy", I've also been spending some time with Kid Gulliver's 2018 EP Spree and finding that I like a whole lot. "Forget About Him" has a distinctive early '90s Boston alternative rock feel to it, while "I Like Your Hair" splendidly blends Armillotti's songwriting aesthetic with Berk's dream pop influences. Both of the band's EPs are $4 downloads from Bandcamp, and "Susie Survived Chemotherapy" is available for one dollar. I am excited to hear more and very thankful that Justine put this band on my radar!

  
-L.R.

https://kidgulliver1.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/kidgulliver/ 
http://www.kidgulliver.com/