KALAMAZOO -- After years of performing together, Kalamazoo's infamous indie-rock group Kiss Me Quick is releasing their debut album, "The Mastodon."

The eleven track collection of tightly crafted indie pop songs and epic rock and roll tunes has already generated a buzz about the foursome consisting of vocalist/ guitarists Jeff Massingill and Ben Ryznar, drummer Nate Cohn and bassist Jed Roberts. Advance copies of "The Mastodon" have received glowing reviews from critics worldwide.

The long-awaited album was recorded in December 2003 with Matt Talbott (Hum, Centaur,) at his Great Western Record Recorders in Tolono, Ill. It's release was delayed by many different factors, but the extra time gave Kiss Me Quick a chance to perfect the album during mixing and mastering with Dave Feeney at Tempermill Studios in Ferndale, MI.

"The Mastodon" is being released by Kalamazoo indie label Hearts On Fire Records, which also represents area acts Mulligan and Posi. The album's name is a historic nod to a semi-legal underground rock venue of the same name that operated out of Cohn and Ryznar's house from 2001-2003.

A CD release party is being held at Kraftbrau Brewery in Kalamazoo on August 27th. Mulligan will be opening the show for Kiss Me Quick, along with The Holy Fire from Detroit and The Rick Johnson Rock and Roll Machine from Muskegon. "The Mastodon" will be available for $10 at the show. More information is available on the band's website at http://www.kissmequick.org.