Kiss Offs know how to say 'Goodbye'

"Goodbye Private Life," the Texas band's debut full-length after a handful of singles, has 14 bottle rocket songs that shake and explode.

"Bottle Blonde" suggests using hair dye to forget an old flame - "Bleach him out!" - and "The Kiss That Kills" namedrops an arsenal of smooches (eskimo, butterfly, etc.).

Yet this album is as far from the pink lacy diaries and feathered bangs of ninth grade as it gets. This ain't touchy-feely romance: the Kiss Offs declare their mission singing, "Kiss me ... slap me!" It's all about the kiss and tell. It's all about the kiss off.

By employing boy/girl trade-off vocals, several of the songs take on a fun he-said-she-said dynamic. On the highlight, "Rock St. Augustine," a guy unsuccessfully begs for a second chance: "I'm sorry, pumpkin," he pleads before she deadpans, "I've heard it all before."

This call-and-response keeps the songs fresh even when the music gets repetitious. The band makes a few attempts at different styles, though, like "Hey, Cowboy" with its punky-western feel and hilarious demand to "Just get on your horse and go/Giddy-up and go!"

The album's main flaw is that the music tends to drown out the vocals - a tragedy when the lyrics are so clever and quick-to-the-draw. These five smarty pants reference everything from "O.P.P." (remember that?) to the urban myth about stolen kidneys, so it's frustrating when the vocals aren't front and center.

Even still, "Goodbye Private Life" is an enjoyable invitation into the band's public displays of audio affection.

03-16-99