The past reimagined: review of Kittie’s “Spit XXV”

As time goes on, songs grow up with the person who composed them. Artists will always change, and so will their work. Also, technology is becoming better, so producers have to keep up with it. The sound of an album that came out 23 years ago will sound different today.

We were eagerly looking forward to those new mixes considering they had Garth Richardson returning as producer for this special occasion. Unfortunately, this is not the whole album. The EP only has re-recorded versions of “Brackish XXV,” “Charlotte XXV,” “Do You Think I’m A Whore XXV,” and the title track “Spit XXV.” It will be out on September 19th via Sumerian Records.

Let’s dive in…

The new version of “Spit XXV” has a crazy mix and rearranging of elements that makes it seem more like the band’s recent work. This is because of the powerful bass arrangement we hear in their current album, “Fire,” which was their first in 13 years. I absolutely like the new version of “Do You Think I’m A Whore? XXV.” The deep and belly sound of Morgan’s voice really stands out, and her voice paired with the supporting vocals is simply amazing. The drums also sound considerably cleaner, and the overall sound has a lot more depth and fullness. I enjoyed the acid sound of the guitar in the original version when I first heard the record, therefore I was surprised that they chose to opt out of that. The deeper drums in the chorus really help the song stand out and I must say this is definitely the greatest reworking of the four tracks.

I wasn’t sure about “Brackish XXV” and “Charlotte XXV.” Of course, I don’t want to compare the old version to this one in the same way, but something was nearly missing. Again, the deepness of the arrangement gives both songs the full body weight that a lot of today’s music has, but maybe I wasn’t quite sold on the second voice in “Brackish XXV.” I felt like I was missing the raw strength the original song had when it originally came out.

I liked the original version of “Charlotte XXV” better, if I’m totally honest. It simply seemed different in terms of how raw and simple it was. Maybe the second guitar’s muffled sound makes me think of “I wanted to hear more of that” instead of the back symphony you can catch in the chorus. I also wonder whether this version sounds slower than the original, or if it’s just how the music sounds when you sit and pay attention.

I have to add that the bass break in this version was quite refreshing as it felt more important than the original song and it stood out as one of the best part of the song. But still this new version didn’t make me feel the same way as the other three.

I like that Kittie took the time to appreciate and revisit this music after so many years. It’s a brave move that many bands don’t want to make since it’s risky and might change how fans feel. Kittie is stepping back into the spotlight, proving they’re still pioneers in the genre. They’ve evolved from their angry-kid days into strong, fierce, and professional artists who honour their roots while moving forward.

Tracklist

1. Spit XXV
2. Do you think I’m a whore? XXV
3. Brackish XXV
4. Charlotte XXV