AWmusic

The Kills have been playing steadily through my headphones these last few weeks. They have overtaken the hundreds of artists on my ipod, even distracting me from Philosophy Bites podcasts. Some feat! I knew an addiction was in the cards as soon as I heard “The Tape Song”, which is the third track on Midnight Boom. Give it a listen and you’ll see what I mean. These songs are catchy and well-produced: the magic combination. This album is a rarity amongst the heaps of mediocre offerings from indie and corporate labels alike. And, most importantly: it’s very sexy.

Especially enjoyable are the songs where Jamie Hince and Allison Mosshart (not a couple, refreshingly enough) trade vocals. One example is on the opening track “U.R.A. Fever” where Hince’s voice is reminiscent of Lou Reed: “We ain’t born typical”. What follows is anything but typical. Danceable and upbeat, with intelligent arrangements, The Kills are paying attention to your attention deficit. There’s no room for boredom. They keep things simple but it works. It’s not a miss even when they take it down a notch and add piano (“Goodnight Bad Morning”).

Infectious and singalong-material, “Sour Cherry” will not sour you on The Kills at all. “Last Day of Magic” has one of the year’s most memorable choruses and likeable lyrics. The hand claps at the start of “Black Balloon” are lovely; the vocals and production are borderline PJ Harvey. Mosshart’s style on “Alphabet Pony” mirrors Karen O, albeit subtly. “What New York Used to Be” is equal parts Peaches and Goldfrapp. Is Mosshart having an identity crisis or is she merely experimenting vocally?

No matter – any experimentation here should be rewarded. Even with the similarities I mentioned, the songs have a fresh sound and a cohesive style. Pair that with the duo’s flair and Englishness, and you’ve got just about the hippest band around – for now. So it is for style over substance. Put this record on before you head out this weekend. The nights are getting cooler – so should you.

MP3:
The Kills – The Tape Song
The Kills – What New York Used to Be

Buy at:
Amazon / CD Universe

More info:
Myspace

Tags: album