Redd Kross didn't fit that well in the 90s scene they came out of it. It seems only fitting they return into the 2010s when they're equally as out of place.
Redd Kross (who started as Red Cross but were forced to change their name after a lawsuit from the actual Red Cross assocation), came from the vibrant Los Angeles music scene of the 80s, merging garage rock with bubblegum pop and 60s psychedelic rock. Mainly the front for brothers Steve and Jeff McDonald, the band released their first album, Born Innocent, way back in 1981. It wasn't until 1990, with the major label release of Third Eye on AtlanticRecord that the band became better known, bouyed on several strong singles, most notably "Annie's Gone".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN4kgQvHFTg
After a break with Atlantic, the band released Phaseshifter on Polygram, which had two more solid singles, "Jimmy's Fantasy" (the video featuring an early appearance by actor Jason Lee) and "The Lady in the Front Row"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs7RPjsFRNM
The band was also known for wild covers, having released one covers album back in 1984 called Twin Babes of Monsanto, and an album under the name of the Tater Totz (a band that also featured psych-pop weirdos The Three O'Clock) called Alien Sleestacks from Brazil. They also contributed a cover of the Brady Bunch's "Sunshine Day" for a low-budget film called Desperate Teenage Lovedolls, and a version of The Carpenters "Yesterday Once More" for I Wish I Was a Carpenter, a tribute album also featuring Sonic Youth among others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejJwjddKLec
Until this years Researching the Blues, Redd Kross hadn't released a full length since 1997. The new album is their first in 15 years and their first for stalwart indie-rock label Merge Records. The first single is a great tune called "Stay Away from Downtown", with a fun kabuki-inspired video.
http://youtu.be/ryh-tsPQsj8
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