Alternative powerhouse Redd Kross recently announced their return to music earlier in the summer with the reveal of their upcoming 11 track album Beyond the Door, set to release in August, according to previous mxdwn article. Beyond the Door is said to have a myriad of interesting influences and inspirations such as Korean pop music, embarrassed pre-teens, relationships that have lasted a while and an unknown mystery character dubbed “Fantástico Roberto.”
The first single of the album was the titular “Beyond the Door,” and was released in tandem with the album’s announcement. The second single, and most recent single, “What’s a Boy to Do?” from Beyond the Door was released via Flood Magazine and hailed as a fun, throwback, single, keeping in line with the vintage feeling that Redd Kross is aiming to capture in Beyond the Door.
The press release sent to mxdwn describes “What’s a Boy to Do?” as being “classic Redd Kross with guitars, bass, and drums topped with a generous portion of sweet vocal melodies delivered with an ambiguous edge” and it absolutely delivers all that and more.
The song would not sound out of place in a John Hughes movie and has fun, cheeky, lyrics that are sure to bring everyone who listens to it right back to their teenage years. The song is lyrically simple, but tells a story that most people will find relatable and the inspiration from “embarrassed tweens” can absolutely be felt in “What’s a Boy to Do?”
The chorus “Cause you let me/ Get away with everything/ Whats a boy to do but change for you” is sure to speak to everyone at some point in their life and is definitely catchy enough to get stuck in everyone’s head. The guitar melody is dripping of influence from the riffs of the 1980s and the drums are present but not too overpowering. The song is balanced, and absolutely perfect for long summer drives, bonfires and days at the beach.
Beyond the Door is available for pre-order now as CD, LP, Peak Vinyl, or a CD/Peak Vinyl/T-Shirt combo and “What’s A Boy To Do?” can be purchased on iTunes and streamed via Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and as a Youtube video linked below.
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
Leave a Comment