This Kid is definitely all right. 　　  　　Southern California's Big Kid is back with an eagerly awaited sophomore release. All Kidding Aside is another collection of can't-miss hooks and feel-good riffs that put the pop squarely back into power pop. 　　  　　Big Kid's 2003 debut, You Must Be Kidding, proved to be a commercial success, placing music on MTV's Laguna Beach DVD. The savvy internet-enabled promotion of the disc served as a prime blueprint for how the world new media machine should work. 　　  　　All Kidding Aside arrives in 05 to build upon the successes of its predecessor. There's no shame in taking a cue from musical genius, and Big Kid remains as devoted as ever to the core values of master songwriters such as Brian Wilson and Jellyfish, as well as reflecting inspiration from newer acts like All American Rejects. Not content to stay the course, this time around Big Kid enlisted the production talent of Noah Lifschey (Hollowstone Music) to tighten up the sound and give the project a crisp edge. Another newcomer, Brian Powell (American Luxury), lends the spark of youthful audacity to lead vocals. These fresh influences serve to enhance Big Kid's power pop punch. 　　  　　All Kidding Aside is a tight, focused collection of great pop rock songs that could only have come from hearts that love power pop, could only have been recorded in Southern California, and can only bring smiles to the faces of fans old and new. Review the disc now and make a place for it in your collection today.