Cooler Kids

Back in 2003, when the Scissor Sisters were just a glimmer in Ana Matronic's eye shadow and Madonna was still sporting cowboy hats, the Cooler Kids were crafting the catchy, carefree, beat-happy tunes that make you want to get on the floor and dance some more, whether that floor's in a club or a roller rink. OK, fine, so their only record is totally indebted to old-school Madge (who then became contemporary Madge again. It's all very postmodern, no?). But it also borrows a big beat from the '90s rave scene (see "E Is for Everybody") and the Kids' soul sisters Luscious Jackson.

Cooler Kids songs are like a mouthful of hard candy: so sweet they make your teeth hurt,
but yummy in a way that leaves a vaguely familiar, funky aftertaste which becomes less
distinct the longer you listen. The duo of singer Sisely Treasure and Kaz Gamble (a.k.a. DJ
Kazimir) are in search of the simple life on their debut, Punk Debutante, a billowy
collection of Deee-Lite-ful dance anthems with titles like "E is for Everybody" an... More >