Practitioners of the music dubbed emocore, the Get Up Kids have mastered an explosive attack of melodic punk and unrestrained, chord-shredding vocals. A combination of their second and third 7" singles, the Woodson EP (sometimes referred to as the All Stars EP) preceded the band's debut full-length, 1997's Four Minute Mile. "Woodson" kicks off the collection with the sound of a warped, buzzing exchange between guitarists/vocalists Matthew Pryor and Jim Suptic, followed by drummer Ryan Pope's characteristic, pummeling drum attack. Presenting a world where connection and communication break down, Suptic and Pryor deliver their lyrics like they are on the verge of breaking out of their skins. Behind them, the rhythm section of Robbie and Ryan Pope propels the quartet through taut, scorched-earth punk bound by rushes of heartstring-tugging melody. The approach is bound to test the limits of your aural facilities. Just when you're thinking about stepping out for some fresh air however, the EP's finest track arrives. Twin guitars spin the soft, heartbreaking melody that introduces "A Newfound Interest in Massachusetts," a moving love song about uncertainty and that place called home. This self-titled EP is a short, potent dose of the Kansas City combo that may or may not whet your appetite for a longer format. Regardless, it will give you a good idea of what the Kids are all about.