After a long hiatus, Brooklyn’s punk rock renegade, SmartBlackKid, has made an explosive return with a remastered reissue of his debut album, ‘Change Reaction’. Originally released in April 2012 as the first of a prolific ten-album series, the record has been refreshed, remastered, and thrown back into the spotlight for its thirteenth anniversary.
The album, now with a new track order and one new song, wastes no time in making its presence felt. The opener, ‘Solar Flare’, is an immediate and wonderfully caustic assault to the senses, lashing out with a raw, glitching guitar line before descending into a cacophony of fierce shredding and classic rock vocals. As the album builds, SmartBlackKid showcases his diverse musical chops, moving beyond the hard rock fury with ease.
Sharp cuts like ‘Sell, Sell, Sell’ offer a glimpse into a more melodic side, its rapid-fire percussion and simmering anger giving way to a more nuanced, but no less powerful, sound. ‘Let It Go’ injects a dose of early pop-punk energy, while ‘Gimmie Love’ demands attention with its ferocious, chainsaw-like guitar riffs and dynamic, splintered chorus.
One of the most interesting takes is the double-act of ‘Rock Bottom’, which presents both a rockabilly and a stark punk version of the same track. These quick-fire cuts, with their DIY sound, are howling anthems that perfectly capture SmartBlackKid’s raw, unpretentious energy and more diverse sonic palette.
What truly makes ‘Change Reaction’ shine though is the potency of SmartBlackKid’s lyrics. Written by a former journalist and poet, the songs are arguably more poignant today than they were 13 years ago. Tracks like ‘Stand Up’, ‘Take Your Power’, and ‘Free Thought’ tackle issues such as wealth inequality, abuses of power, and the surveillance state. They serve as a call to action, urging listeners to stand up against injustice.
This isn't a reissue steeped in nostalgia but a sharp reawakening, bringing a defiant, poetic, and spiked record back to the spotlight. You can stream the remastered album above via Bandcamp, and for more, be sure to connect with SmartBlackKid on Instagram and YouTube.
