Kill Them With Kindness
by Headlights
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. AllMusic
    70
    Maybe by the time their next album rolls around they will be able to tame their influences into a more coherent-sounding body of work that will more fully represent their abilities.
  2. Pitchfork
    67
    When Kill Them With Kindness works it's because of Fein and Wraight's keen attention to melody and the way their voices complement one another and inject these songs with warmth and emotion.
  3. Uncut
    70
    They produce big pop hooks via skewed My Bloody Valentine guitars more reminiscent of Giant Drag, but with the abrasiveness replaced by sugary harmonies. [May 2007, p.93]
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  5. PopMatters
    40
    Kill Them With Kindess simply doesn’t demonstrate the talent or caliber of song I know that Headlights are capable of.
  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    Big tunes welded to even bigger guitars.
  7. Under The Radar
    80
    Kill Them With Kindness is an impressive debut proving that the remaining members of Absinthe Blind are not living in the past but continually experimenting into the future. [Summer 2006]
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  8. Spin
    60
    A melodic world of deliciously messy guitars, synthesizers, and piano. [Sep 2006, p.102]
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  9. Stylus Magazine
    50
    Kill Them With Kindness might be a rewarding listen, for example, for a Stars fan, but then again it might be better to stick with the more familiar originals.
  10. Lost At Sea
    70
    Kill Them With Kindness works on some levels, but overall it lacks the gravitas of other contemporary pop specialists like... Stars.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Superbuddha
    Nov 28, 2014
    9
    A good collection of catchy tunes with a fresh and happy feel to it. Headlights is a band gone too soon but who managed to release a couple ofA good collection of catchy tunes with a fresh and happy feel to it. Headlights is a band gone too soon but who managed to release a couple of good albums. Kill Them With Kindness is certainly the most accessible and even though it did not change the face of indie pop for ever, its unpretentious and cheery songs will always put a smile on your face.… Full Review »
  2. Andy
    Feb 1, 2007
    7
    Not fantastic, but not bad either. I can't escape the feeling that this album was rushed through production (perhaps to capitalize on Not fantastic, but not bad either. I can't escape the feeling that this album was rushed through production (perhaps to capitalize on Headlights landing a song on Greys Anatomy last year). It just feels haphazard... there are some really good songs, but quite a few throwaways as well, and the runtime at 14 tracks is unnecessarily bloated. I'm giving this a seven, because despite it's flaws, this is mostly an enjoyable album, and I think this band has a lot of potential.… Full Review »
  3. Mike
    Oct 23, 2006
    7
    A very enjoyable album - the songs really have a way of growing on you over time, without ever wearing themselves out. I should note too, A very enjoyable album - the songs really have a way of growing on you over time, without ever wearing themselves out. I should note too, that at press time (well, now) the rating on this record is wrong - doing the math for real lands the album a 62.4 - back in the green territory where it belongs.… Full Review »
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