"Imagine if DJ Shadow were into noise rock, if the Dead Milkmen rapped, or if My Bloody Valentine composed purely with found sounds." - KEXP Blog
Kinetic Stereokids cut their teeth in Flint, Michigan-a city of abandoned auto industry, staggering unemployment and one of the nation's highest crime rates. What started as childhood friends seeking refuge in basement jam sessions has since developed into an inspired, intelligent and innovative brand of modern rock.
With comparisons ranging from Beck to Mogwai, and the cited influence of Can, Elliott Smith and the Beastie Boys, the Kinetic Stereokids' sound is gritty, beat-heavy, sample-laden, lo-fi sonic alchemy.
KSK first earned recognition playing warm-up shows in the metro Detroit area for acts such as ?And you will know us by the trail of the dead, Secret Machines and Explosions In The Sky. They were consequently signed to Brooklyn-based label Overdraft Recordings.
After the 2007 debut full-length release Basement Kids landed on the CMJ Radio 200 list, KSK gained national momentum, touring from New York to Los Angeles and from Pop Montreal to South by Southwest.
Basement Kids' lead single, "Explosions Were Heard" was featured as Song of the Day by indie rock heavyweights and web-radio pioneers KEXP FM Seattle, and was also included on their groundbreaking Music That Matters podcast series. The buzz surrounding KSK spread beyond the U.S., as well, with their "junkyard folktronica" dubbed "insidious and addictive" and "attractive in so many ways" by various UK sources.
In February 2008, KSK headed into Ghetto Recorders to mix their second release, Kid Moves, with Detroit studio legend Jim Diamond (White Stripes, The Mooney Suzuki, The Dirtbombs). The result is a more sophisticated effort than Basement Kids, while still retaining their distinctive grit.