Colors of Home Reviews

Accounts of Colors of Home

For an insightful, full-length article about us and the record, click on:

Geoff Harkness writing for Lawrence, Kansas's "The Mag": "Don't Call it a Comeback."

For an inaccurate bio, and reviews of the recordings at the online authority of all things musical, check out Kill Creek at the All Music Guide, which includes this review of Colors of Home:

Hailing from Lawrence, KS, Kill Creek has cranked out energetic, impassioned pop/rock with dashes of punk and country for more than a decade. On Colors of Home, their third full-length (excluding numerous demo recordings), they distill their sound into short, hooky compositions with disproportionately great emotional impacts. "Mousetrap" is a head-bopping pop track elevated to greatness by a xylophone introduction and a soaring bridge. "Divorcee" is an acoustic, 5/8 meditation beautified by a trumpet-solo outro. Touches like these (not to mention singer Scott Born's highly literate but unpretentious lyrics) reveal that Kill Creek are very able veterans at their often thankless trade. — Henry Shteamer, All Music Guide

Splendid E-zine -- November 2002

Kill Creek are not the usual Second Nature Recordings fare -- there isn't a snarling guitar or thunderous drumbeat to be found on Colors of Home. When you consider that the band counts Casket Lottery, Euclid and Waxwing among their labelmates, Kill Creek seem downright tame. But be warned -- there is a dark heart lurking beneath this disc's seemingly genteel veneer, due in no small part to the fact that Kill Creek have been around for the better part of a decade and have survived a stint in major label (Mammoth) hell. If you're aware of the band's past, the sullen, disparate tone of "Divorcee" and "Mousetrap" probably will not come as any real shock. The shock, such as it is, comes from the ferocious blast of white-hot punk rock that is "Serotonin"; the band careens off the rails (literally and metaphorically) amid a squall of overdriven guitars and clenching rhythms. This minor uprising continues with the jaunty chime-and-strum of "Grandfather’s Left Side" before coming abruptly to rest in the moody meditations of "Cops" and "Kathleen". You'll be left feeling weary, but somehow wiser. They might not be exactly what you’d expect from Second Nature -- assuming you know anything about the label at all -- but Kill Creek are definitely a group of survivors, and their tales of the ups and downs of human existence are well worth hearing. 9/10

Ink 19 -- December 2001

Slow moving but dynamic emotional rock that crawls out in a perfect rhythm, and then slides into sharp energy that cuts the tips of your fingers. This band has been putting out music for over ten years, and it shows. The musicians play with and off each other, curving vocals effortlessly around careening guitar waves, and the rhythm section moves from a dirge dance to a celebration of life with a simple roll click crash. This album, sharing some moments with members of Shallow, Casket Lottery, and Frogpond, also takes on some nice recording points thanks to Ed Rose, who's worked with The Get-Up Kids, The Anniversary, and more.

Delusions of Adequacy 2002 Top Ten:

1) Hot Water Music - A Flight and aCrash
This band always makes an amazing and positive statement.
2) Kill Creek - Colors of Home
A perfect example of why this band is hugely under-recognized and highly influential at the same time.
3) Son Ambulance / Bright Eyes - Oh Holy Fools
This is the best Conor Oberst has done yet.
4) Joe Davis - Hope Chest
This singer for the Pinehurt Kids has an amazing voice, and I love his songwritting.
5) Crooked Fingers - Bring on the Snakes
Who could resist anything Eric Bachman has a hand in?
6) Built To Spill - Ancient Melodies of the Future
Another incredible all-time favorite band.
7) Modest Mouse - Everywhere & His Nasty Parlour Tricks
Tough to chose between this bands' albums released this year.
8) Death Cab For Cutie - The Photo Album
All I can say for this band is ... beautiful.
9) Smashing Pumkins - Greatest Hits
Speaks for itself.
10) The Cure - Greatest Hits
The happier side of the best band ever, the world needs the happier side right now and this band can't write a bad song!

Jason Heller; Skyscraper Magazine Top 10

Strike Anywhere "Change is A Sound"
Comets On Fire "s/t"
The Flaming Stars "Ginmill Prefume"
Kill Creek "Colors of Home"
Limpwrist "s/t"
The Strokes "Is This It"
Planes Mistaken For Stars "Fuck With Fire"
Hood "Cold House"
The Mercury Program "All the Suits Began to Fall Off"
Lost Kids "Belle Isle Is On Fire"

LIVE REVIEW: Kill Creek @ The Bottleneck 11-30-01

Finally what everyone had been waiting for: Kill Creek. Playing a series of songs spanning their entire career, Kill Creek kept the crowd dazzled front to back. My attention could not be pulled from the stage-they were powerful, emotional, and so much more unified soundwise than the last time I saw them perform. Unfortunately, many were disappointed to hear that Rick, the pedal steel player did not make the trip. Maybe next time they play they'll bring him and increase the number of people paying homage to the local scene's longest striving hero, Kill Creek. I absolutely can't believe how amazing these guys really are. They don't just play their music and have a good time, they honestly move people. The guy standing beside me (no, not Andy, or even the drunk guy Andy beat the shit out of, but the guy beside him) looked as though he had never been happier in his life as tears rolled down his face during "Grandpa's Left Side." I've never seen anything like it before at a local show. This may not have been the best show I've ever seen, but it was close, and definitely one I'll never forget. Lead singer Scott Born posted on TheZone.com that "going to see Kill Creek is like visiting your Grandmother at a family reunion, you never know when it'll be for the last time, and the time is coming soon." I can only hope with a hint of doubt jammed in the depths of my throat that there will be much more to come. If you get the chance to see Kill Creek, cancel all other plans, this is more important.

Reviewed By Matthew Herbert 12-5-2001

Manatee Bound -- January 2002

Somewhere in the heart of a big city cold water flat, several musicians sit in a semi-circle in the deep shadows of stacks and cymbals. Acoustic strums and drummed thum-thum-thums anchor earnest vocals (male and female, at once vulnerable and strong) to a slowly building combustion of electric bass and guitar, eventually fusing to more voices. And when the singers all sing at once, the listener is convinced there is no other place on earth than where he or she is at that moment. The skin tingles, every hair follicle bristles, chills dance up the spine. Yes, it is possible for there to be revelation in this world, it is possible to wholeheartedly believe in something, it is possible to have faith in something.

And it’s not only possible, it’s already happening.

That’s how I feel when I listen to Colors of Home, a somewhat eclectic collection of songs from Kill Creek. The band formed in 1986, and this is their first record in four years. It doesn’t quite sound like a complete record; rather, it feels like an anthology of material recorded over an extended period of time. But within the framework of the Kill Creek rationale it all makes sense. They sound like veterans of all stripes: wars, tours, studios, vehicles. And they’ve lived to tell the tale to anyone who’ll listen.

The album starts off with “Hardly Accounted For,” a story of a young woman scorned by a young man. She became pregnant with his child, he left her, she had an abortion. She returned from the liquor store one day (where they knew her by name) to find her house-actually, the basement of the house was where she lived-on fire. The firefighters handling the blaze determined that there was no one inside her building, so they let it burn in favor of saving the house next door. You want to let her head rest on your shoulder as you tell her “I told you so.” The multiple layers on which this song functions in meaning are enhanced by the excellent folk pop sounds created by the musicians.

And the Creek runs from there.

by Tim Holsopple

Action Attack Helicopter-Aug. 2001

I think Kill Creek might be the one band I've listened to the most this time around. That in itself should say something about how much I like this band. Or perhaps it just says something about how difficult it was for me to make up my mind about what to say about them. Kill Creek is not an easy band to understand or to break down into a form which is readily translated to the average reader. This album, "Colors of Home", is ten songs clocking in at around thirty minutes. The first five songs are rather laid back and pop rock in nature. In fact, some of the first few songs could almost be, dare I say, commercial rock in nature. However, the second half of the album shows the real meat of the band. Exhibiting a darker, more intense lyrical persuasion, the band shows their depths and full potential (as if that hadn't been demonstrated already by the fact that they've been around the block a few times including two records with Mammoth Records). Songs such as "Cops" and "Kathleen" are my favorites on here for their lyrical storytelling and frank honesty. "Colors of Home" is quite a rare surprise; not something I would necessarily listen to everyday, but a solid release to keep in my collection which I know I could turn to time and again. Most likely, this could be one of the sleeper hits of the year. -Kurt Morris

Punkbands.com, August 2001

Rating: 10/10
Holy 10 out of 10 batman. Yeah, so what if this is my second ten out of ten, these are two exceptional albums that have been released. And I know I am the hardcore and old school expert but when I get amazing stuff to cross my desk I don't knock it because it isn't tough enough. Kill Creek is an amazing band, it is as simple as that. They have put every ounce of their energy into making "Colors of Home" to come out, as well as for as long as they were a band. "Colors of Home" has some songs from the free cd which were being handed out a few months ago in a Status Inc. package I think. But they were remastered and although there are no real big difference's it still brought a warm fuzzy feeling to the pit of my stomach. This album contains amazing stories, and heart breaking tales. I feel more and more "emo" every time i hear this record. The instrumental aspects of this cd do not show a great deal of technique and skill as per say a speed metal CD, but the guitars and other instruments are played with much reverence as to what is going on. All in all a great CD, and one that will not leave my CD player for a while. For sure. (Jason)

BABYSUE, August 2001

Lots of really cool tunes here from a band that has a unique sound and approach. Kill Creek hail from Lawrence, Kansas. The band was originally on the Mammoth label. For whatever reason, they have found a more proper home on Second Nature. The band's songs are smart and feature dynamic guitars and wonderfully imaginative melodies and song structures. At times things become suddenly calm and quiet, but the band definitely knows how to turn up and jam out. What impresses us most here is that the overall sound just doesn't remind us of other bands. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why this is, because the individual pieces are the same...electric guitars, bass, drums... But the way these fellows arrange their songs and put the pieces together, the genre suddenly sounds fresh, new, and vital again. Our favorites are "Hardly Accounted For," "Mousetrap," "Divorcee," "Cops," and "Prying." Our guess is that folks into Game Theory, The Radar Bros, and other pensive unconventional bands will really get off on Kill Creek. This one will be receiving major spins in our office in the coming months... GREAT stuff...! (Rating: 5/6)

ALARM #10 August 2001

This Lawrence, Kansas band has more than paid their dues beginning in the early '90s, spending time on Mammoth and releasing tons of material, while touring feverishly. Somehow, Iąve still managed to miss the boat. Colors of Home completely hit me with some real rock emotion (but without being emo). With complex lyrics and undeniably cohesive arrangements, these guys come up with a sad-yet-charming pop record. Grabbing from a wide array of indie rock finesse and style, Kill Creek hit you right where you want it with tunes like "Mousetrap", "Kathleen" or "Divorcee" (which I canąt stop playing. I love the way this record makes me stop and examine my own turmoil). I, for one, am through missing out. DD (Second Nature)

Geek America, August 2001

Grade B
When i first heard the name Kill Creek, and i heard this album was on Second Nature, I figured "okay, it's hardcore", but it's hardly hardcore. Kill Creek creates some edgy, somewhat dark pop music. The music seems to come at you in a lonesome way, almost like it's asking you to listen to it by yourself. Apparently this band has been around for a long time, and even have their own major label horror story. At points there seems to be some British invasion influence here, and maybe even weezer at points. Listen to this while Doing some Craft Work in your garage (BGW)

Kansas City Star, Jan 2002

A local alt-rock fave in the latter '90s, Kill Creek has changed its sound, but not profoundly. The opener, "Hardly Accounted For" is classic college rock: melodic, hard and lyrically cryptic; and "Seratonin" bellows and crescendos like it's still living in Kansas City's post-grunge heyday.

On "Colors," Kill Creek is most appealing when it reins in the volume ("Gett Up") or delivers its take on contemporary power-pop -- like "Mousetrap," a honeyed, crunchy tune that's too cool for the radio crowd it was built for. -- T.F.

Synapsis Digital Magazine, Dec 2001

Rating: 5/5

After numerous delays of all kinds, long time Lawrence, KS rock band Kill Creek have finally released their much anticipated full-length follow up entitled Colors of Home. While the band has released a bunch of stuff since the release of Proving Winter Cruel in 1996, this is the first full-length of all new material that has been released for mass consumption since that time.

Like an old friend returning to your life after a long time apart, much listening took place as I caught up on how Kill Creek has both changed, and stayed the same over the years - and I have come to one simple conclusion. This CD is one helluva piece of work, and it may very well be the best local disc to come out this year. The 10 songs on this 30 minute CD do a great job at showing the different facets of why Kill Creek has been one of Lawrence's most venerable and influential bands over the decade and a half, and why they will continue to be a touchstone for many fans and bands alike well into the next.

Some of the things that I notice right off is the depth of what's going on in the music on Colors of Home. I really like how the band utilizes three different guitar parts effectively - as illustrated in "Grandfathers Left Side." Also throughout several of the songs you have a serious country twang going on, derived from the use of lots of acoustic guitar and Rick Gray's very solid lap steel playing. This proves to be a distinct quality in what Kill Creek is trying to accomplish with Colors of Home and it works very well.

While there is a hint of a more prevalent, if somewhat darker, pop sensibility throughout this whole CD than on previous albums, this is probably most prevalent in the opening track "Hardly Accounted For." With a catchy chorus and nice back up vocals, this song has a hook, without becoming trivial.

Then you have the pretty, laid-back sounding "Divorcee," which features gorgeous backup vocals from Julia Sheilds (of Shallow and The Capsules fame) and a long trumpet solo by KC jazz musician, Tom Johnston. The surprising use of trumpet in a Kill Creek song will turn some heads, but it also turns out to be a great way to end the song and setup what follows immediately after.

"Serotonin" is easily the hardest rocking track on the entire CD. Coming in at just ninety seconds long this uptempo angry punk/hardcore rocker features the biggest guitar sound on the record and screaming vocals to boot (thanks in part to Nathan Ellis of the Casket Lottery).

"Prying," on the other hand is a forlorn acoustic number that features the lovely vocals of Tawni Freeland singing alongside Born. Sonically, this is the most unusual song on the whole CD, one that will continue to hinder anyone trying to label the Kill Creek sound. A very unusual song for Kill Creek, both in it's composition and application of instruments. But then again, it's definitely not unlike Kill Creek to end an album with a short, yet somber track to mark the occasion.

The different styles and sounds touched upon throughout this CD do a great job at both keeping the listener interested and in keeping 'em guessing as to what's coming next.

Lyrically the band paints a very interesting, personal picture that Born delivers with a lot of passion, soul and emotion. This is a band with a very colorful past and it comes through all the facets...the music, the lyrics and the performances. Kill Creek has always been a band that writes deep, powerful lyrics and Colors of Home is no exception. It will take listeners more than one run through to totally understand what's going on here. But that is also a big part of what makes it so good.

One could go on digging even deeper into this CD but really, what would be the point? Like tearing apart a sonnet looking for hidden meaning and symbolism, you're just as likely to shatter the mystery that makes it so much more than just a string of words.

This is a great rock band that has put out a great CD. Kill Creek will continue to influence a good portion of the bands on the local scene today. With Colors of Home they prove that they are every bit as good today as they were ten years ago, if not better. I think it's safe to say that Colors of Home is very much Klammy bound next spring. It should be bound for your CD collection much sooner.