MTVKID – “Far From It” Reviewed
The greatest rock singers of the 1990s sure did a lot of moaning and complaining while delivering emotionally raw lyrics. But that’s not why we’re still talking about them.
Along the way, the same rock stars greatly influenced fashion and got their face on posters across millions of bedrooms. And while that’s impressive, it is still not the thing that makes audiences remember them.
MTVKID have a theory. What if the best thing about 90s alternative rock was the big hooks played using distortion pedals and sung as if trying to get a whole stadium to listen up?
On the EP “Far From It,” the Helsinki group puts the theory to the test. This song collection isn’t merely a nostalgic recreation of the past. It’s a celebration of what made even the darkest alt-rock songs feel interesting and exciting.
Just listen to the opening track, “Yeah Yeah.” Sure, it’s a song about lacking belief in one’s powers and mentions the need for therapy. But when that simple, effective chorus comes in, you really start paying attention.
The strategy also works on “Fight Back,” a track that brings to mind bands like The Breeders. A song about conflict and attraction, “Fight Back” is similarly generous with the melodies that you can hum along to.
Even at their darkest, the Finnish quartet doesn’t lose sight of what’s important. The revenge fantasy of “CA$H” is built around poppy vocal parts. The break-up song “I’ve Got Nothing to Say to Make You Stay” delivers the chorus just when it should. And the EP’s closer “Don’t Let Go” places resonant acoustic guitars in the forefront.
Where does it all leave us? If MTVKID have done their job, it should all leave you humming along with some tunes the way that you do with the ‘90s alt-rock anthems that have inspired the Helsinki band. And that’s what you remember at the end of the day.
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