'It's not the door you're using, it's the way you're walking through. '

The Kills consists of Jamie Hince, nicknamed “Hotel” and Alison Mosshart, pseudonym  “VV”. If you don’t know the kills, you might have heard from Mosshart, as she currently sings for The Dead Weather. She also did some background vocals for The Artic Monkeys on Humbug. I will be reviewing their fourth studio album: Blood Pressures. The previous three have been greeted with applause.

01 Future Starts Slow

02 Satellite
03 Heart Is A Beating Drum
04 Nail In My Coffin
05 Wild Charms
06 DNA
07 Baby Says
08 Last Goodbye
09 Damned If She Do
10 You Don’t Own The Road
11 Pots and Pans

When I listen to The Kills, the First thing I notice is the simplicity of their music. But in their simplicity lies their brilliance. They manage to create an atmospheric, industrial, well balanced sound and Mosshart’s voice really colors the whole. 

The Kills aren’t what you would expect from a rock band. Their music isn’t very rough, powerful or paved with clichés. They keep it alternative all the way. Some catchy tunes, great lyrics, great vibe and they tend to touch that emotional string right there where you can feel it.

Let’s continue with the album. “Future starts slow” is a great first track as it sets the mood and drags you along. The guitar and the percussion really go hand in hand.
The second number: “Satellite” is reggae based and very experimental. The humming of Mosshart put’s the cherry on the pie.

“Heart is a beating drum” is a song without major peaks although there’s a lot of variation during the number. But at least they try to mimic the beating of the heart and it makes their music conceptual, which is pretty cool.

“Nail my coffin” is an up tempo, more industrial song. I really like the way they manage to make great music with just the very basic. No extreme ornaments. Great flow too. Props for the vocal part.
“Wild Charms” was a big surprise. Very dreamy with a hint of Beatles. Can’t go wrong with that. Too bad it lasts for a minute and a half or so.

I didn’t care too much for “DNA”. It’s all right in terms of catchiness and it’s listenable. But I had the feeling something was missing. It lacks a bit of character and because of that it becomes a bit superficial.

With “baby says” The Kills are back on track. A sharp riff and a sweet vocal undertone make this number one of the best of the record.
As “Last goodbye” begins you instantly hear how versatile a band can be. It’s a calm, rustic piano based song. It’s unique in its kind on the record which makes it more striking. Very beautiful.

Nearing the end of the record, the songs turn more bluesy and straight forward. “Damned if she do” and “You don’t own the road” are the evidence. Very listenable songs with a strong chorus. Not the best songs they ever made though.

The closing song: “pots and pans” is their way to say goodbye in a dragging and calm but jolly manner. The guitar decorates well and with a fade out, the record comes to an end.

As I said earlier this is the fourth studio album. I enjoyed the previous three and are worth checking too. They will be playing at Pukkelpop 2011. You Should watch them if you’re going.