Even Stars Are Closer

Blonde Redhead “Kiss Her Kiss Her”

“Kiss Her Kiss Her” is emotionally fraught but musically fairly placid, a romantic song from the perspective of someone being left out of the action whether by choice or pragmatism. Kazu Makino’s lyrics seem to come from the perspective of someone who is urging someone – their partner, their crush, their friend? – to pursue another woman, even as she insists “it’s gonna end in tears.” But whose tears? Ambiguity serves this song well, particularly in giving the sense that Makino is portraying an unreliable narrator who’s clearly trying to stifle themselves and come across as magnanimous despite some strong negative feelings.

Buy it from Bandcamp.