Kill For Love - Chromatics
Kill For Love Image
Metascore
80 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 24 Ratings

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  • Summary: The fourth full-length album for the band led by Johnny Jewel features 17 tracks.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Prefix Magazine
    May 18, 2012
    90
    Its power and poise never ceases for 90 wonderful minutes.
  2. NOW Magazine
    May 3, 2012
    80
    If Kill For Love doesn't make you a Chromatics believer, nothing will.
  3. BBC Music
    Jun 7, 2012
    80
    Kill for Love is also one of the finest records to surface this year.
  4. The A.V. Club
    Apr 25, 2012
    58
    The ambience is fine enough, but it's probably worth just waiting for the movie.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. keep_yr_bias
    9
    I'm a little surprised that I'm the first one to write a review for this album, and it's a shame that's the case. This is a really... really good album. On first listen the album can be overwhelming, and I'll admit I still haven't been able to fully digest all 90+ minutes. It's not easy finding time to listen to the album front to back. While this album is meant to be played that way to truly appreciate it, it isn't neccesary. There are some excellent individual tracks. The opening track "Into the Black" sets the tone very well. It's a bold move to begin with a Neil Young cover, but the Chromatics pull it off perfectly. The core lyric "it's better to burn out/then to fade away" is part of the central theme of this album. The title of the album gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect. This is an album about love, and the pursuit of it regardless of the consequences, so this album sounds and feels very passionate. The title track makes this pretty clear and it's one hell of a track. The track (and most of this album) is essentially 80's synth pop, much like the movie Drive that the Chromatics contributed to on the soundtrack so the timing of this album feels right. However, the production is so crisp that it feels completely right here in 2012 despite it's heavy 80's influences. "Lady" is a good example of their perfect balance between nostalgic pop and modern electronic music and it's extremely catchy. There are plenty of catchy pop moments on this album, but there are some long stretches of what I can only call "mood" music. This album somehow feels like a straight forward album, and a soundtrack for a movie at the same time. It's very refreshing, and I love the vibe. To say this is an ambitious album would be an understatement. Calling it hypnotic seems more appropriate. It's a bold, uncompromising album that should hold up very well over time. Hopefully more people discover this album, because it's likely the best thing out right now that nobody has heard.… Expand
  2. AlexxTrusc
    8
    Chromatics' album - "Kill For Love" is one of the longest alternative publications - seventeen tracks appearing on the CD are more than one and a half hour of music at its best. Therefore band could afford lethargic longueur in the intro of "Into The Black" or the closing - totally minimalistic - "No Escape". On release we'll find mix of various genres and musical motifs - ambient "Broken Mirrors", indie rock "At Your Door", title "Kill For Love" or heavily electronic "Lady".… Expand
  3. icunn
    8
    Opening your album with a Neil Young cover is always a win! An interesting followup to their success on the "Drive" soundtrack. Lengthy but intriguing.… Expand
  4. LetzTalkMoveez
    6
    A dreamy, nicely recorded dream pop journey that starts in a lovely, seductive world and ends up driving you batty if you take the ride and keep your hands inside the vehicle at all times.… Expand

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