Based out of Kansas, from Something to Write Home About forward, their sound defined my personal tastes.  Whether it was their side projects in The New Amsterdams and Reggie and the Full Effect; their fellow Kansas bands in The Anniversary,  The Appleseed Cast or Ultimate Fakebook (amongst others); or even through their various reinventions in sound, they’ve always been a pleasure.

And then when they decided to part ways back in 2005, I saw them on 3 separate occasions on their farewell tour - including their farewell show in Kansas City.  It was a shame to see a band I enjoyed close a chapter of their lives, and I suppose it closed one of mine as well.

However, this past year, the band decided to get back together, and now have started to record new material.

Their first new release, part one of a series of 3 EPs, entitled Secret Science came out today, and let me tell you - it’s pretty damn great.

While only 4 songs in length, the EP picks up where they left off on Guilt Show, mixing electronic melancholy with solid rock guitar licks, and it doesn’t sound like the band missed a day together in the studio.

Sure, they’re now a bit older, a bit fatter and a bit balder - but the “Kids” sure have a lot more gas in the tank.

Check it out, it’s even available on iTunes right now for less than $4. It’s completely worth it.