EAR CANDY | [Stream] The Kills – Blood Pressures
The official album release isn’t until April 5 (via Domino), but the Kills released a full online stream for Blood Pressures just yesterday. I’m listening to it right now and thought I’d share. If “Satellite” and “DNA” were any indication, I think I’m gong to love the record. Enjoy!
First impressions:
- Opening track (“Future Starts Slow”) is the perfect introduction.
- The guitar work is a lot more muddy and full on this album than on Midnight Boom. I’m always so impressed with the tones and sounds that Hince can get on his guitar.
- Jamie Hince made me swoon on “Wild Charms”
- I can’t help but notice that Mosshart’s vocals have gotten even deeper and huskier on “The Last Goodbye” (must be due to the smoking).
- The album has a good mixture of sounds from the steeped-in-sex gritty and heavy to more nostalgic slowdance tunes
- Waltz-like 3/4 time string symphony of “Last Goodbye” is beautiful. It’s quite a departure for the duo, but it’s quite orgasmic.
EAR CANDY | [MP3] The Kills – “DNA”
[Mp3]: The Kills – “DNA” (right-click, save as / control + click, save link as)
The enigmatic grunge blues rock duo of the Kills‘ “Hotel” (Jamie Hince) and “VV” (Alison Mosshart) have already released the first single off Blood Pressures–“Satellite”–along with its accompanying video, announced the first leg of their tour in support of the album, and shown off the record’s album art (pictured above). Now they’ve jumped on the “free track” trend with a no-fee download of second single, “DNA.”
On the first listen, I have to say I’m partial to the crunchy guitar work and overall frenetic fuzz and grittiness of “Satellite.”
“DNA” is much more down-tempo in comparison, but it’s the type of slinky song you could imagine a gang of leather and vintage-clad badasses with perfectly messied up ‘just-got-out-of-bed-hair’ strutting down a dimly lit street to in slow motion. I think it’s a track that I’ll grow to love more and more with each listen.
With two strong singles, the anticipation is definitely building up for the Kills’ April 5 release date (via Domino) of Blood Pressures, and I cannot wait.
EYE CANDY | The Kills’ “Satellite” (Video)
The Kills‘ released “Satellite” the first single off their forthcoming album Blood Pressures about a week ago, and now here’s the video!
INTERVIEW | Abbe May
Blues/Rock
@ Perth, Australia
Myspace | Website | Facebook
I raved about her in part 3 of my 3-part series of LISTEN UP! Australia, and now the Aussie blues siren Abbe May answers some of A Mindful Earful’s questions about listening to music growing up, her sound, and some of her favourite albums of the year. (Plus, she has some harsh opinions on manufactured music by Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.)
So, get ready for some lengthy, intelligent answers with ellipses galore, and read on! (more…)
LISTEN UP! Australia (Pt. 3) | Tame Impala + Abbe May
Here it is: part 3 of my series on Australian music, just as I promised (albeit a little–okay, very–late). The great “Down Under” has produced many quality folk-pop singer-songwriters, but with these two bands/musicians, Australia proves that it can churn out more than just sentimental and glitter-infused tracks. (Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a sucker for that kind of music; it’s just good to know there’s diversity.)
Australia is also home to quality psych-rock bands like Tame Impala and bluesy sirens a la Abbe May.
