Ohio production duo The Kickdrums are notorious for spending hours in recording studios to achieve just the right sound. That diligence has led to an energetic, percussion-friendly sound embraced by many Hip Hop artists, ranging from Slaughterhouse to 50 Cent. However, that trademark style is surprisingly not the dominant sound of The Kickdrums' Just A Game EP. As recording artists, the duo of Alex Fitts and Matt Penttila are not just creative Hip Hop producers. They are Rock stars. The Kickdrums stretch beyond their pedigree, as their always-melodic sound embraces alternative influences for Just A Game. Singer/songwriter Fitts adds a wavy tone to most songs, occasionally sounding like a carefree Thom Yorke or Beck. His low-tone crooning set to the ghostly "Personal Calamity" is particularly Radiohead-esque. However, The Kickdrums are not simply another "Hey, they sound like..." band. Vocals on the EP's title track may remind listeners of popular British band leaders, but the melody is too strong to notice or care once the music picks up. Fitt's breezy voice glides over the guitar, bells, trumpets, and Rap-friendly drum programming. The powerful combination makes for an engaging song with Rock bones and a Hip Hop spirit. Though Just A Game is closest to the Rock family of music, The Kickdrums do not divorce themselves completely from Hip Hop. A few songs on the 10-track EP easily could have been hip-hop beats had the producers veered in a slightly different direction. The c