The Kills are the latest entry in what might be termed "the new garage rock," differentiated from the old by the lack of 1960s orientation or accouterments; it includes bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Strokes, and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. This two-person ensemble strives for a stripped-down, extremely back-to-basics sound, as performed by thin white people who don't comb their hair much and are (perhaps too) careful in avoiding solar radiation. The Kills' ancestors include seminal New York City icons Suicide, Richard Hell, and Sonic Youth, along with such simpatico Brit combos as Delta 5, Wire, and the more recent Elastica. Like their forebears, the Kills make a little go a long way, with riff-driven tunes conveyed by unfussy, jagged guitar riffs; minimal use of bracing distortion; primitive, metronomic drumming; and vinegary, brusque female vocals (betraying the influences of Patti Smith... More >>>