Kevin K & The Bowery Kats – ‘Rosewood’ (Vicious Kitten Records)

Kevin K & The Bowery Kats – ‘Rosewood’ (Vicious Kitten Records)

Kevin K returns in 2024 with ‘Rosewood’ – a ten-song collection to backdrop a world set with tension, AI advances and an ever-decreasing circle of real honest Rock n Rollas. That’s what the Double K and his record label want you to believe but it’s not as bad a picture as that intro might suggest, no sir. We at RPM know that it’s out there still kicking and screaming but it might be harder to find which is why we’re here and I guess why you’re still reading this here review.

Prolific Punk Rock n Roll lifer The Double K loves a Riff and ‘Rosewood’ has plenty throughout its ten tunes. Rockers, steeped in da blooze baby plus the quieter moments that find KK at his most reflective and openhearted. The format of bittersweet songs leaning heavily on his heroes such as Big Star, Johnny Thunders, the Replacements and the Stones are present and accounted for which is the staple of Kevin’s repertoire and thank God for that keeping on keeping on.

Double K has always kept close to his NYC roots and sung about his early formative years and those halcyon days are still his staple call it retro or nostalgia, for lifers like Kevin K it’s all he knows and the well can never run dry due to its rich past. The record is probably Kevin K at his best to be fair and sounding live is a real benefit for these songs no longer having to lean on a drum machine Kevin has embraced the modern world and on ‘Rosewood’ delivered a kick-ass record and captured what’s in his heart really well.

The opener ‘Sometime In The Rain’ has a great hook and melody and the wall of guitars sounds vibrant and alluring. Sure Johnny Thunders would approve but that’s the point. ‘What Will I Do’ is aggressive whilst ‘Last Train Home’ is more laid back but the rawness carries the song home. ‘Moving On’ has plenty of swing from the hypnotic riff and the fact that he resisted the temptation to rock out with the rest of the band is what makes it.

‘How I Feel’ is a really dirty Steve Jones kinda riff built around a Stooges groove. It might share a title with The aforementioned Stooges but ‘I Feel Alright’ comes out windmilling those riffs and one of the best tracks on offer here. There’s room for a loose take on ‘Brand New Cadillac’ and I do like the Thunders inspired guitar solo – very nice.

The album closes on the reflective ‘My Time Has Come And Gone’ and we’re done. The only acoustic song on the album and classic Kevin K, wrapping up a really impressive album from the man which only leaves me to say if you know Kevin K and like what he does then this is a no brainer and if you’re here for your first time then this will impress. always good to hear new music from Kevin K and smile at his cat-inspired artwork. head over to Bandcamp without paws and pick up a copy and act like you’re the cat who go the cream.

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Author: Dom Daley

Kevin K – ‘Broken’ (Vicious Kitten Records)

Kevin K – ‘Broken’ (Vicious Kitten Records)

It’s been a while I’ll give you that. One man Trash Rock n Roller Kevin K has released a bazillion self released albums over decades and its been a whilse since we heard from the man and then an email hits the virtual doormat with a thud and low and behold its only a new long players from da Man containing his heaviest bunch of lo-fi tunes to date.

He’s been leaning on the fact that these tunes are his heaviest songs in a Blackest of Sabbath way and as soon as the title track kicks in you get his drift. Kevin took himself to Detroit to record in a cold dark basement just to set the tone and boy has it shaped these tunes. In an age where you can produce a piece on pro tools in your toilet if you so wish and get amazing results but Kevin heads to the basement and digs up a tascam four track and buries it in the dirt then digs it up and then begins recording. Twelve songs the next as dark as the previous taking a heavy metalic goth sledgehammer to each track.

‘Broken’ is heavy distorted riff-a-rama but heres the thing its not a giant leap his vocal is instantly recognisable for fans of his work and the solo is sweet whilst the drum machine plays on behind the wall of fuzz its a cool riff and a great way to kick off the album.

Kevin pays tribute to one of the finest bands ever to walk the planet with ‘The Lords Of The New Church’ not a new idea one that Michael Monroe did very well on his solo path and an idea that Stiv did with the Dolls so full circle is done and I do like the use of the tracks riff. ‘Wrong Way To Hell’ is an aggressive little bugger and I also like the riff on this I can imagine this done in a studio with a real live band and a big production being a bit of a beast and the melody is really good.

The theme follows throughout with strong vocal melodies from the Double K with fuzzed up fucked up guitar riffs kicking the tunes out of your speakers with less abrasive vocals from KK. In a dark Hellhammer kinda way ‘Prayers Of Life’ bursts into life.

The lyrics tread familiar ground for Kevin but you knew that but the change here is trading in those Thunders licks n fills for a blunt trauma forced guitar hitting your speakers with little finesse and it actually works for Kevin. The album gets a little lost midway with the same tempo and drum sound and beats but ‘Winter 22’ soon sets that to rights. Something as a little interlude ‘Winter 22’ is some light relief before heading back into the darkness with ‘Catacomb Heart’ a rolling solaplex punch of a riff over a staggering stuttering beat before a brief dark bridge and then heading back into the darkness. Excellent song.

The record signs off with a one man assault on the Dead Boys classic ‘Caught With The Meat In Your Mouth’ that ends as abruptly as this record begins. A cool experiment from Kevin K and over all it actually bloody works. Dive in summon the beast and let some darkness into your world. Kevin K did and made a record.

Buy Here or Bandcamp

Author: Dom Daley