Let me begin by letting you know I do not condone the kissing of cousins. However, should you choose to cross the line, keep it short and sweet.

Lost Angeles' all-girl quartet Kissing Cousins do just that. While sweetness is not found in the typical sense of “we're cute with our instruments,” it's found in the simplicity of these sullen indie-rock songs. KC completely dodge the entire typical girl-with-a-guitar attitude and image encouraged by Lilith Fair. KC seem to keep it raw and lo-fi. 'Sillhouettes' is slow, the drums are thin and rattly, and the guitar sounds flat-out real. In 'Phone Call' the drums sound much bigger and singer Heather's tortured voice flows over distorted sustaining chords. The last two songs on the EP are surprisingly the strongest. 'Sleep Little Angel' starts out with light guitar picking and flute and moves into Heather's vocals sequentially. By far one of the most calming songs I've ever heard, the title it quite fitting. “White Rooms” is equally as melodic as it's predecessor, but the most upbeat track on the EP. It features drums, tambourine, thick organ-esque keyboards, flute, and the best vocal performance of the set.

The first songs are low in production, slow, and have little hooks to grab onto. But each song in, KC prove they've got more than just your typical rock formula. By the end, the songs are better composed and are noteworthy at the least. Fans of Sonic Youth or PJ Harvey, take note. If you're a fan of girl-music for the sake of the girls, this is not your bag.

Rating: 3/5