Rainbow Kitten Surprise, a band whose name is just as unconventional as their sound, has released another exceptional album. On Sep. 26, “bones” went public on all music streaming platforms. The true emotion, allusion, and metaphorical lyricism accompanied by a blend of alternative-pop and indie rock shows listeners why RKS is referred to as “genre-benders.” The band has grown in popularity from songs like “It’s Called: Freefall” and “Cocaine Jesus” being used across TikTok and Instagram, but “bones” gives the mainstream audience a taste of their true colors.
Upon release, lead singer Ela Melo was vocal about what this album means to her, as it shows a new side of the band’s sentimentality. “We called it “bones” because we were clearing skeletons out of our closet. These were both musical and interpersonal dynamics that we had to release before we could make this record what it is,” Melo said (Nashville Noise).
The song “Dang” was released as a single on Jul. 18, leaning more heavily into a rock-pop blend than some of their previous songs. The loud, ecstatic, and almost electronic feel that RKS displayed in their 2024 album “Love Hate Music Box” is bold in this song. Despite the upbeat sound, “Dang” is about a one-way love, longing for an ex-lover. This song’s meaning and feeling sets the precedent for the rest of the album.
“Looking at you for the first time was like seeing first light at the end of the tunnel” is how this album beings, as sung in “Friendly Fire,” the first track. “Friendly Fire” as a whole is about being misunderstood by a loved one, something almost everyone can closely relate to. However, it brings in personal elements from Melo’s life with the lyric “baby blue, tell me, does it come in pink?” This likely relates to her journey as a transgender woman. Melo came out as MTF (male-to-female) transgender in 2022, stating that she was ready to be her “authentic self.”
The album’s title track somewhat rings in the noise from “Dang.” The song has slow yet bold drums and base with gentle vocals. The lyric “blue lace, am I two-faced? Am I too late for you,” lays out what the song has to offer, an understanding of toxic relationships and doomed affairs. “100 Summers” carries on with that same tone and message.
If you need a good scream, “Hell Nah” has you covered. In the chorus, Melo exclaims, “dare you say somethin'” three times over, professing her anger towards someone who claimed they’d needed her in their life but ultimately abandoned and hurt her. Keeping up with the theme of love, loss, and pain, “Hell Nah” has the same amped-up vexation as “Murder,” which holds a very close sound and meaning. The song gets its name from “Murder in the City” by The Avett Brothers, which is directly mentioned in the chorus. The allusion creates a contrast, where Melo is singing about rage and pain while referencing a song about finding forgiveness.
On the surface, “King” is a prime example of love songs in RKS’s distinct genre. However, this is not the case, as “King” references the 1970s folk song “Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin through the recurring lyric “cats in the cradle and the silver spoon.” This remark makes it known that the song is about looking for validation in others after being neglected by a parent. “Tropics” is the only true love song on the album, but still makes notice of romantic problems. Every other songs seems to draw back to a somber undertone, meanwhile, “Tropics” main message is that the lovers will make it through their battles together.
Fans that live for a quieter, poignant listening experience are likely to enjoy “Stars” and “Texas Hold’em.” The sound of these songs resembles the band’s debut album, “Seven + Mary,” where symbolic wording and soft music meet. “Stars” is all about soul-searching, looking inward to discover what you want out of love. Meanwhile, “Texas Hold’em” takes another approach, singing about the complications of relationships and the hardships that couples face.
As RKS grows, so does their production quality. Grammy-winner Jay Joyce worked with the band to bring the vision of “bones” to life. The beauty of this album is the delivery of relatable words and unorthodox sound. Throughout the years, the band has experimented with many sounds and has been compared to bands like “The Lumineers” and “Mt. Joy,” but nothing truly matches their ever-evolving melodies and hooks. They’re similar to “Panic! At the Disco” in the sense that you get a new sound with every album. It may be tongue-in-cheek, but “Texas Hold’em” summarizes RKS’s work in just six words: “my cards, I’ll never show them.”
