From the opening notes of "Who Do You Dance For?" the changes wrought by the major-label sponsorship are instantly apparent as sinewy threads of synth are woven through the rock-hard firmament. Whereas the previous album was distinct in its raw and unbridled intensity, Kiss & Tell, while still packed with intense riffing, sounds like a much more calculated salvo.
They haven't forgotten their rock roots totally: Chuck Berry guitar adorns the intro of "Nerves," a jittery rocker that lives up to its name and would've fit well on the first album. Handclaps on "Walk on the Wire" are a nice touch, and Maria Andersson's vocals are one of the strong points of the LP. Admittedly, it's a pretty irresistible formula: the Cars-style synth on "Stay/Stay Away," the playful Benatarian vamp of "The Difference Between Love and Hell." Hell, if the Runaways had thought of this, they could've actually been a hit instead of just legends in their own time. -- Joe S. Harrington
