Kids Return Reimagine Youth and Memory on Britpop-Inspired Album “1997”

French duo Kids Return release “1997”, a nostalgic and emotional debut album opening with the radiant “First Choice.”

Photo credit: Mathieu Fortin

French indie-pop duo Kids Return deliver their long-awaited debut album 1997—a nostalgic and emotionally immersive record that pays tribute to the sounds of the past while speaking to the coming-of-age experience of today. Opening with the soaring and upbeat “First Choice,” the album invites listeners into a world of sun-kissed romance, heartbreak, rebellion, and reflection.

“It captures the impulsive, carefree nature of teenage love,” say the band about the opening track. The song’s infectious energy and breezy melodies set the tone for a record full of heartfelt vignettes and cinematic soundscapes.

At the album’s core lies “My Hero,” a tender and intimate tribute to a lost loved one. The track’s sweeping instrumentation is matched by a powerful visual featuring French actress Céleste Brunnquell. “Time to Time” marks the album’s emotional raw point—“the rawest song we’ve ever made,” they note—while “Teenage Dreams” charts a two-part journey from betrayal to acceptance, backed by gospel choir harmonies.

Mid-album tracks like “Who Knows?” and “Welcome To My Life” show Kids Return at their most adventurous, blending darker moods with bright hooks and layered arrangements. “Perfect Lover” channels youthful chaos into something euphoric and unpredictable.

The final tracks—“So Good Alone” and “The Seattle Boat”—navigate solitude with melancholy beauty. “We love the idea of ending the album with a farewell, yet one that feels like the start of something new,” the duo reflects.

1997 is a vivid, emotional debut—a modern classic in the making for fans of melody, memory, and meaning.