Though Kansas City foursome Knife Crime has been together a decade, Lovely is only their first LP. But going back even further, founding brothers Byron (vocals/guitars) and Brad Huhmann (bass), Jeremiah James Gonzales (guitars), and Jake Cardwell (drums) have honed their skills in 16 bands between them. Thanks to such extensive pedigrees, the dexterous group is consistently varied and invigorating. On “Kids’ Excuses,” “Falcon,” and “Lump Sum,” they mix Nick Lowe and Squeeze pub rock/new wave with brasher, walloping Libertines (UK), Kaiser Chiefs, and Smithereens garage rock/power pop, topping everything off with Byron’s nasally, swagger-filled Elvis Costello-meets-Pat DiNizio croon.
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“Kids’ Excuses”
“Alone With My Principles”