It’s punk! It’s rockabilly! It’s loud and fierce! The Del-Viles are out with their brand new record “It’s Just a Kiss-Off” and it is everything. From the very first second, this album grabs you by the collar and does not let go.
The opening track “The City” hits like a freight train. The refrain “Talk about The Man try to put him down” makes the anti-fascist message crystal clear from the jump. This could be the No Kings anthem we didn’t know we needed. Blast it at maximum volume at the next rally you go to. It will pump you up like nothing else.
The transition into “What You Got” is seamless. The energy shifts from full sprint to a slow, confident strut and it works perfectly. A deep bass tone anchors the song while bright distorted guitars slash through the mix with fun blues riffs. Lead singer Ethan keeps his vocals raw and gritty even as he slides into blues territory, and that tension between his punk delivery and the bluesy melodies is what makes this track genuinely special.
“Two-Tone Dress” might be the most infectious song on the record. The guitar riff opens the door, the cymbals walk in with their own hook, and then the bass and kick drum hit together and it’s over for you. This is bluesy rockabilly with a punk rock edge and it makes you want to put on your best outfit and hit the city immediately. The guitar solos throughout are played in exactly the right distorted tone, not too much, not too little, just right.
Then we get “Wild” and the band shows they can write a straight up rock love song with real emotional weight. Heavy guitar riffs and tom tom drums fill the room while Ethan pours his heart out: “I don’t think you care, baby, But you look so fine, I don’t think you care, baby, But you drive me wild, People never take the time to talk to you, People never seem to say what they mean to say, And I can’t stand to see you cry that way, Take a load off baby ’cause you need it.” The lyrics are tender but the delivery is fierce and it lands every single time.
“If I Might I May” is where the record gets a little darker and heavier and the album is better for it. The vocal delivery has more bite here and a breakdown section mid-song completely shifts the atmosphere before pulling you back in. The transitions are smooth and daring at the same time. This is a song that rewards you for paying close attention.
“Don’t Hang Around” is a quiet gut punch. The bass line rolls in melodically right from the start and Ethan’s voice drops to something tender and warm, a side of him we haven’t heard yet on the record. He stands up for his girlfriend by becoming her echo, repeating her words and her boundaries to the men who won’t listen to her directly while she stays the dominant force in the story. “She don’t care for it she want to put you down, Don’t you know that it’s time to go, Don’t you know that it’s time to leave, My baby said it’s time to go, I don’t want you to hang around.” It’s one of the most quietly powerful moments on the album.
“Charlotte” picks the energy right back up. “Charlotte, you don’t have to talk to him!” The theme carries over from “Don’t Hang Around” but the delivery is sharper and louder. Blues riffs collide with punk rock drums and there are flashes of 50s and 60s rock n’ roll all over it. This is the Del-Viles firing on all cylinders and sounding completely like themselves.
“Skeleton” has the best guitar riff on the entire record. It locks in with a deep, heavy bass riff from the very first note and the dynamics between them pull you in so fast you don’t even realize it’s happening. The lyrics are simple and the instrumentation is complex and the combination is perfect. “Go Figure” follows with that same wild energy and cranks it up even further. “My baby started rocking and a-rolling!” If you are sitting down when this song comes on, you will not be for long. This song has genuine power to move a room.
“I Hate You” is a heartbreak song that somehow feels like a celebration. The vocal grit and the heavy bass carry all the pain of the lyrics but the energy of the track is so alive and electric that you can’t help but feel pumped up. It’s a real trick to pull off and the Del-Viles nail it.
The record closes with “River Seine” and it is a revelation. Gone are the distorted guitars and the pounding drums. In their place is a lofi acoustic track that sounds like something Daniel Johnston might have recorded in his bedroom, raw and intimate and completely honest. It is a beautiful and unexpected way to end the album and it tells you that the Del-Viles have way more in their bag than you might have thought.
The Del-Viles are based in Minneapolis and they are putting their money where their mouth is. One hundred percent of digital sales from this album go directly to rent assistance for their neighbors. Their partner organizations are Central Neighborhood Care and Resistance and the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association. If you want to support the band itself, buy a physical CD.
This record is loud, emotional, political, tender and wildly fun. Go listen to it right now and grab a copy while you’re at it. You’ll be helping people keep a roof over their heads. There is no reason not to support this band!
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Written by Ryan Cassata
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About Rock the Pigeon:
Rock the Pigeon is an independent music and culture blog dedicated to uplifting emerging artists, spotlighting underrepresented voices, and sharing fresh sounds across genres. Since 2012, we’ve been celebrating creativity, authenticity, and the stories behind the songs.