The Kills - Midnight Boom











The Kills consists of vocalist/guitarist VV (aka Alison Mosshart) formerly of the Florida punk band Discount, and drummer/guitarist/vocalist Hotel (aka Jamie Hince). The bands early comparisons to The White Stripes should end with this album as 'Midnight Boom' floats back and forth between punk, pop and electronica. The album does lean more towards electronic than before and this may have to do with the fact that Spank Rock's producer Alex Epton aka Armani XXXchange was brought on board to assist with additional production duties.

The music is very catchy, well put together and somehow manages to pack a punch while still being very minimal. There are a lot of "punk" elements to most of the songs (like yelling and thrashing guitars). The Kills also love another punk mainstay, the chant, and I can only imagine that this goes over very well at live shows. VV's vocals range anywhere from blissful to royally pissed off and I love both. 'Goodnight Bad Morning' shows that the band has a softer side as the song chugs dreamily along (with a piano even!) and has VV cooing to us "Goodnight Bad Morning". Songs like 'Last Days of Magic' and 'Tape Song' (two of the strongest track on the album) make me think that Elastica, The Pixies and Garbage had a love child and named it The Kills. 'Midnight Boom' is an album that grows on you and you will catch yourself hitting repeat on the CD player without even realizing it.

I had expected more of the same with this album (as a lot of groups have been letting me down as of late) but I was glad to see that The Kills are moving onwards and upwards. They are actively making music that not only hints at the bands they were influenced by but to a degree surpasses them. You may be able to tell where they got the inspiration for some of the songs but they make them their own, instead of sounding like cheap imitations. 'Midnight Boom is a great album and if The Kills continue in the direction they started with this album, you better believe I will continue to be along for the ride.

9 out of 10

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