Cooler Kids
“Punk Debutante”
(Dreamworks)
At first listen “Punk Debutante” is a superficial album filled with bubble-gum dance hits perfect for same-sex and underage venues. Then it ends up in the CD player to kill time in traffic on the way to work. Soon enough it’s just the energy boost needed before hitting the club. The duo known as Cooler Kids has universal appeal, clearly stepping outside the shadow of the electronic music into a tranquil happy place with pretty colors. Kaz Gamble (aka DJ Kazimir) blends his catchy beats with Sisely Treasure’s alluring and intuitive vocals, resulting in a mellow yet buoyant sound.
Luscious Jackson’s Jill Cunniff helps out with production, adding a familiar flair to the funky pop tunes. Perfect for dancing, chilling, or driving, “Punk Debutante” is like one of those multi-symptom medications claiming to cure all of your ills. It’s possible that Cooler Kids already got their five minutes of fame after their “All Around the World” was featured in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth listening to once in awhile. If you can get over just a little bit of tacky production (And their name; what kind of name is Cooler Kids?), the overall vibe will definitely please.
