The Black Kids are an interesting story to tell. They popped up in August of last year and the buzz started on many indie sites in following their breakout performance at the 2007 Athens Popfest in Georgia. The same month, they released their EP Wizard of Ahhs which showed definite potential (8.4 and Best New Music on Pitchfork), but the immediate flashiness of Black Kids turned rather suddenly sour (although you could see it coming) with the release of their full-length debut Partie Traumatic.

Catchiness has its limits, and the Black Kids are a prime example of undeserved hype playing itself out. I mean, the music is okay. It’s all fun, bright, stylish. Some highlights of the album are the title-track “Partie Traumatic” which kicks off with a fittingly flashy guitar riff, moving into more light-hearted psychedelic pop. “Hurricane Jane” was featured on their EP and fits the scene perfectly for a slow track with Reggie and his sister Ali mastering a vocal duet.

But the problem with the album is that Black Kids brought exactly what we expected musically. It brings really no sentimental value. The songwriting is simply uninspiring. The vocals embody the group in the sense of lightheartedness and mood, but the more I listen to Black Kids, the more bland and irritating it gets!

Once you hear the mastermind voice his opinion on Pitchfork’s review of their album, you really have to take a step back from the whole thing. I realize I’m being super harsh on Black Kids, but little Reggie can’t even back up his own album. Have a look:

How embarrassing. I think that video is all that has to be said for Partie Traumatic.

It doesn’t help that 4 out of the 10 tracks on Partie Traumatic are recycled from the EP which shows obvious weakness from the get-go. Maybe if they took a few extra months to write new songs, their debut LP would have enough spark to hold its own.