The Kills - Midnight Boom
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Free Music Notes for Midnight Boom
Free Music Review: An absolutely stunning album
Hit: 5 Stars
I liked both of the Kills earlier albums -- KEEP ON YOUR MEAN SIDE and NO WOW -- but didn't think that they were so excellent that I needed another one. Lord, was I ever wrong. MIDNIGHT BLOOM is not merely a huge leap forward, but is one of the best rock albums of 2008. While the first two albums were excellent in every way, there was a bit of monotonous sameness that crept in as you listened to them in their entirety. They were best listened to in hunks, not wholes. MIDNIGHT BLOOM is diversely textured from beginning to end, with far more nuance to the arrangements and a wonderful diversity to the songs, without losing any of their hard edge.
The Kills are a duo like the White Stripes, except that they rely on recordings of Hotel aka Jamie Hince drumming with VV aka Alison Mosshart doing the bulk of the vocals. But they don't sound anything like White Stripes. They frequently have moments that remind me of PJ Harvey or the Pixies. Live they are extremely minimalistic, but MIDNIGHT BLOOM is deeply layered with a host of bells and whistles that can only exist in a studio. In listening to many of the album's cuts you might think that there would be no way that they could translate many of the songs to a stage performance, but it is amazing how completely they make the transition.
I could -- and will -- tick off what I think are the album's best songs, but what impresses me is that it really is a good album. The various cuts reinforce each other. I won't say the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but all the parts do their work. For instance, "Black Balloon" is almost delicate and meditative compared to what precedes it, but the next cut, "M.E.X.I.C.O.," is a hard driving rocker. "Sour Cherry" is a masterpiece of rock minimalism combined with unorthodox percussion, with a sassy attitude ("I'm the only sour cherry on the fruit stand"). The first two cuts on the album, "U.R.A. Fever" and "Cheap and Cheerful" are great singles that set the tone for everything that comes. The song that follows, "The Tape Song," might objectively be as great a song, but I enjoyed it perhaps just as much. "What New York Used to Be" is a killer penultimate cut leading into the soft-edged "Goodnight Bad Morning" puts the album to bed.
If you love indie rock you have to have this album. That's all there is to it.
Free Music Review: The Kills New Album Simply Rocks!
Hit: 5 Stars
The Kills have really created something awesome with their latest album Midnight Boom. There are about 10 songs out of the 12 on the album that have definite potential to be huge singles. Not since MGMT's Oracular Spectacular has an album had so many huge tracks. Yet unlike MGMT's album, which has songs that stand great on their own but maybe aren't ordered well, this new album can really be listened to nonstop and you've got almost a perfect ecclectic playlist of awesome music. Electronic, rock, punk, experimental, indie; this album has it all.
"URA Fever" feels like a blend between the coolness of INXS and the smoothness of the Waifs. This album definitely gets started off right with this track. And then it goes on a roller coaster, with just about each song offering something different. They never really miss a beat on this album.
"Tape Song" reminds me of why I loved Luscious Jackson on albums like Fever In Fever Out. Just a cool song delivered with tons of edge. "Mexicoco" is a similar type of song, catchy as anything but still a great song. And then even take it to a punkie edge with "Alphabet Pony."
"Last Day of Magic" is an AWESOME song too. Definitely has that electronic rock vibe. And "What New York Used to Be" also shows their electronic infused chops. But then on "Hook and Line" they just rock out. It's amazing that they can blend between so many styles, and not skip a beat. All of these cool songs blend well with my MGMT playlist.
Some of the songs are a little soft, "Getting Down" being one of them. Still a great song, but probably works best within the album and not so much on its own. They they show they can deliver ultra mellow with the final track, " Goodnight Bad Morning."
This is on my short list for 2008. You should definitely check this out.
Enjoy!!!
Free Music Review: There's Hope for Modern Music Yet!
Hit: 5 Stars
The Kills have really honed and perfected their sound in 'Midnight Boom'. Dark, with Hotel's (Jamie Hince's) machine-like guitar riffs, the automatic drum beats, VV's (Alison Mosshart's) cool and cocky vocals, all sounding just as good, if not better, then Keep on Your Mean Side, and certainly double the impact of No Wow.
As the name suggests, this Kills album conjures a late-night, rough rock/blues vibe. Instead of sounding like music from the past (not that that's a bad thing, but The White Stripes would be an example), however, it sounds not only modern and young, but hip! The lyrics are just as witty and full of cool-casualness as ever, and there are frequent groovy, danceable moments in songs like "Sour Cherry" and the wise choice of a single, "Cheap and Cheerful". My favorite track on the album is "Getting Down"; with Mellow Gold-era Beck-ish lyrics; "I'm getting down with your new vocation / I'm getting down with the young drunk lovers", etc., accompanied by the Kills-trademark drum loops and heavy guitar. VV even lets her vocals sound surprisingly clear and pretty, despite the dark overtone, on "What New York Used to Be". There's not a dull song in the batch.
This album is very promising, especially for a time where stand-out releases are few and far between. The Kills are one of the greatest bands to emerge post-2000, and definitely one to watch for the future, as well. If you're into bands such as The Black Keys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, or simply looking for an indication that fantastic music isn't dead, you'll dig The Kills!
Free Music Review: Cheerful and not cheap!
Hit: 5 Stars
If you're in a rock band and you're going to date a super model, your music had better be good or you're simply giving more fodder to the press. Just ask Pete Doherty.
Actually, Mr. Doherty does have a link, albeit a wobbly one with Brit/American duo The Kills. Guitarist Jamie Hince is dating Doherty's ex, Kate Moss, assuring them ample space in the British tabloids.
"Midnight boom" is their third album (I was introduced to their sound when I got their sophomore "No wow") and it features more of their edgy, electro rock sound. They get compared to The White Stripes simply because they comprise a boy/girl duo.
Opening is the droning throbbing ""U.R.A. fever (you're a fever, with the pair trading lines) followed by the hand-clap adorned groovy "Cheap and cheerful". It reminds me a wee bit of the groovy "Born to hand jive" from "Grease".
"Tape song" is a gently pulsing ballad that wouldn't sound of place on a Garbage CD as does the beautiful "Black balloon" (with Alison Mosshart turning in a crystal clear, yearning performance).
More upbeat are the jangly "Last day of magic", "Hook and line", the drum kit-demolishing "M.E.X.I.C.O.U." (nice girl group sound), the hand-clap (this seems to be a new trend, what with The Ting tings doing it too) adorned "Sour cherry" (with syncopated beats), the eerie but bouncy "Alphabet pony", and the distorted sounds of "What New york used to be".
Closing is the tender acoustic "Goodnight bad morning" with Hince providing subtle harmonies for Mosshart's vocals. Lovely piano tinkling also.
A strong CD that should keep them in the public eye long after the tabloids tire of the Moss liaison.
Free Music Review: Midnight Boom
Hit: 5 Stars
The Kills-Midnight Boom *****
"I want you to be crazy 'cos you're boring baby when your straight, I want you to be crazy 'cos you're stupid baby when your straight."
To say Midnight Boom is a great album is a severe understatement, and while it is early, it must be said that this is now, and chances are will be at the end of the year, the best of 2008. vocalist Alison "VV" Mosshart tag-teamed with Jamie "Hotel" Hince's original guitar work make The Kills one of modern musics greatest teams. Her soft angelic vocals, aside his recall classic Kim Deal and Francis early Pixies, and Sonic Youth when soulful. Bliss. The techno-blues/punk is one of the most refreshing things ever created, and this their third album is one of the most raw, and incoherent things that I have ever heard, and I wish more than anything thing else in the history of music that I had created this.
'U.R.A. Fever' is a cheerleader chant in the middle of of armageddon. 'Tape Song' is indescribable, and not memorable after it's off but when it's on you become transfixed. 'Last Day Of Magic' is stunning in the same way that The Pixies' 'Where Is My Mind' was at the end of Fight Club. 'Hook In Line' is the radio equivalent of the original SNL cast known then as the not ready for prime time players. 'M.E.X.I.C.O.' is short, punishing, and more intense than a night of great sex. 'Sour Cherry' is Jack White wishes he could do.
Incendiary isn't the right word, just the first one to come to mind.