Kiss Kiss
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Kiss Kiss

| INDIE

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Band Alternative Avant-garde

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Press


"Eclectic, Schizophrenic, and Brilliantly Structured"

"'The Meek Shall Inherit What's Left' proves to be eclectic, schizophrenic, and brilliantly structured. Tracks like “The Best Mistake” and “If They Only Knew” are orchestral and enamoring to the listener while “Plague 11” and “Innocent I” are romantically psychotic and go from high extremes to swooning melodies without a comfortable medium. How can you really illustrate what Kiss Kiss sound like, though? Let's say there's an ADHD-inflicted child named Mr. Bungle who is running off of buckets of sugar and swaying to a Dresden Dolls record." - Examiner.com


"A Band With A Firm Grip On Their Identity"

"'The Meek Shall Inherit What’s Left' expands upon what 'Reality Vs. The Optimist' said with the precision of a band with a firm grip on their identity. Without sacrificing melody or common sense, Kiss Kiss fully embrace the eccentricities that made 'Reality' a criminally unnoticed gem two years ago. The middle of the record finds the band tinkling random notes on toy pianos, paralleling unheard of melodies in half tones, and dropping it all at their convenience for a gorgeous, accessible chorus. Kiss Kiss display a remarkable talent for blending experimental noodling with a home base of grandiose pop that affords the group opportunities to do whatever the hell they want, which they take full advantage of." - SputnikMusic.com


"Musical Equivalent of Being Drawn and Quartered"

"Do NOT under any circumstances listen to this album if you’re coming off of any music that is cute, chilled-out, whimsical, relaxing, and/or at all cathartic. The band leaps from muted keys to Eastern European-influenced violin to blankets of reverb within seconds, guided by Josh Benash’s twisted vocals. Listening to Kiss Kiss is the musical equivalent of getting drawn and quartered, and with 'The Meek Shall Inherit What’s Left,' the horses are champing at the bit. Be prepared to be swept up and taken to the strange, asymmetrical world of Kiss Kiss. Be prepared for dissonance. Be prepared to be challenged. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself hugging your knees to your chin, slowly rocking yourself under a warm shower." - AbsolutePunk.net


"Shapeshifting Hasn't Sounded This Good in Years 4/5"

"'The Meek Shall Inherit What's Left' is an iridescent piece of work so patently schizophrenic in its attack, that fashioning a review to fully describe its multi-directional avant-classical-prog-punk majesty is as pointless as a team of consultants conspiring to make Nickelback credible. Shapeshifting hasn't sounded this good in years." - Alternative Press


"Circus Music Gone Rock"

"In an eastern-European-flavored whirlwind of circus music gone rock, Kiss Kiss have dished out a very creative album that somehow manages to mold infectious pop out of avant-garde insanity. Go see them live and you'll understand - you won't know whether to laugh, cry, or poop yourself. Trust me, it's a good thing." - Death & Taxes


"Harmonious Yet Noisy Rock Music"

“The group forms harmonious yet noisey rock music … and integrates an underused instrument – the electric violin – giving their music a dramatic and classical appeal. Because of their cinematic style, sometimes they sound similar to DeVotchKa.” - WonkaVision


"Subverting Emo-Core's Absurdity Via Gleeful Theatrical Bombast"

"Kiss Kiss is part of that strange sect of bands who are subverting emo’s core absurdity via gleeful theatrical bombast. We’d recommend the band’s Reality vs. the Optimist to anyone who relishes the surreal zaniness currently being practiced by groups ranging from My Chemical Romance to the Paper Chase—there’s even a bit of System of a Down–style circus punk in the mix." - Time Out New York


"Incredibly Well-Orchestrated"

"Incredibly well-orchestrated... On the same level as Muse but the lyrics are more personal and dark.... The music borders on chaotic, but we are reminded beautifully time and time again that they are in control, and all you need to do is keep your hands inside and enjoy the ride." - Purchase Independent


"Mosh Pit at an Orchestral Concert"

“If you’ve ever been thrown out of a venue for trying to start a mosh pit at an orchestral concert, then Kiss Kiss may be just the band for you." - Aquarian


Discography

All on Eyeball Records -

2009 - "The Meek Shall Inherit What's Left" LP - includes singles "All They Draw" and "Innocent Pt. 1"

2007 - "Reality Vs. The Optimist" LP - includes singles "Machines" and "Satellite."

2005 - Self-Titled 5-song EP

Photos

Bio

“It’s time for a revival,” is a common sentiment in modern music, but Kiss Kiss’ Josh Benash, doesn’t say it, he embodies it. With their explosive new album "The Meek Shall Inherit What's Left," Kiss Kiss don’t just revive music, they build a cathedral to it out of a gypsy circus tent. In the space of eleven tracks, the caberet catches fire, the orchestra aches and Josh Benash’s voice breaks it’s way through a truly groundbreaking masterpiece.

The word is getting out. Death and Taxes write, “In an eastern-European-flavored whirlwind of circus music gone rock, Kiss Kiss have dished out a very creative album that somehow manages to mold infectious pop out of avant-garde insanity. Go see them live and you’ll understand.” Through the ferocious dissonance of “Machines” the band channels Nirvana for sheer power and originality while “Satellite,” with it’s sweeping chorus and Beach Boys verses, proves that Kiss Kiss aren’t just obscure fair for the art school crowd.

“I got a job at the Knitting Factory as an intern, and it was there I Discovered musicians like John Zorn, Glen Branca, Mike Patton, Sun Ra,” explains Benash, “But I think that initial love of a good pop song never left me, and I began to try and incorporate the strangeness I loved in Avant Garde, with the great melodies I love in Pop.” Alternative Press concludes that the band make “Epic and experimental pop… you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them."

The band have been touring the country tirelessly in support of bands like Murder By Death, Margot and the Nuclear So and So's and Ra Ra Riot, and have built a dizzying reputation as a live band. They will be continuing to support the full-length through 2009, bringing their unique mix of gypsy melodies akin to Beirut, Gogol Bordello and DeVotchka to every city in the country.

"The Meek Shall Inherit What's Left" is in stores now through Eyeball Records, the Independent NJ label responsible for the similarly genre-breaking bands, Murder By Death and The Number Twelve Looks Like You as well as giants Thursday and My
Chemical Romance.

“The mainstream has a knack for sucking the Honesty out of a genre, and it takes a new leaf to bring that back.“ Josh Benash, Kiss Kiss