The Kills – Cheap And Cheerful (Domino)

The new material by The Kills should be welcomed with open ears. Not only does the new batch of songs contribute to their finally being mentioned in music columns rather than celebrity-related news, but it also helps to answer the question of where the American duo have headed musically since the lo-fi scuzziness of previous records 'No Wow' and 'Keep On Your Mean Side', for those of us who were beginning to become impatient with anticipation.

This single 'Cheap And Cheerful' is a fairly accurate indication of the style being offered by new album 'Midnight Boom', providing evidence of the band's more polished approach this time around. The track kicks off with a hefty, throat-clearing cough from Alison, alongside a selection of loose electro beats, demonstrating the band's relative departure from their jagged post-rock of yore.

Thankfully this development hasn't softened the band's punch though - the bassline still growls and rumbles in typical Kills fashion, while Alison's semi-chanted vocals still strike up compelling blend of urgency and charisma. The lyrics act as a series of commandments focused around the theme of getting us to loosen up and go a bit mad, which may have been Alison and Jamie's philosophy in crafting the tune itself.

It's less 'rock' than what we've been used to when embracing The Kills in the past, but the change of backdrop works wonders. 'Cheap And Cheerful' is the sound of a band letting go of their inhibitions and creating some edgy, sexy pop music.
Rating: 4/5

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Artist: Kills Title: Midnight Boom Released: 18/03/2008 Buy Now \| View Details	Artist: Kills Title: Keep On Your Mean.. Released: 05/05/2009 Buy Now \| View Details

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