The independently released ‘Kites’ from Melbourne indie-pop-rock band Kinematic seems to have what it takes to bring a break to the band, on first listen. However, the album lacks the attitude to grab the listeners and make them really commit this album to memory; it remains a bunch of feel-good pop-rock songs with some impressive guitar work, and nothing more.

Opener ‘Already Here’ does not have any replay value and sounds a bit like Maroon 5. Things pick up during the second track ‘Whirlwind’ but only slightly as the vocals throughout the song become irritating, especially during the chorus. ‘5 O’Clock High’ steps in the right direction, however, as Kinematic provide us with a feel-good piano-driven track with some nice touches towards the end.

The main thing that I find disagreeable about this album are the vocals – which range from listenable, to grating – the worst display being on the otherwise fine tracks ‘Jefferson High’ and ‘Peyote,’ the latter has some really nice instrumental work though.

Attitude is present on the later tracks ‘Jika Jika’ and ‘Mizuki’ but again, this is not due to the vocals but to the music – the vocals bring the tracks back down to bland pop-rock status.

All in all, there is no punch to this record, nothing to make you feel like you need to listen to this album again; it is a bearable pop-rock offering which finds vocalist Michael Owens often unable to keep up with the music when it tries to take off.

Review score: 5/10