User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Kill Them With Kindness
by
Kill Them With Kindness Image
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 4 Ratings

  • Summary: The indie-pop trio from Illinois--making their debut with 'Kindness'--features former members of Maserati and Absinthe Blind.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. 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]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. 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.
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    Big tunes welded to even bigger guitars.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Spin
    60
    A melodic world of deliciously messy guitars, synthesizers, and piano. [Sep 2006, p.102]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. PopMatters
    40
    Kill Them With Kindess simply doesn’t demonstrate the talent or caliber of song I know that Headlights are capable of.

See all 9 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. chloef
    Sep 12, 2006
    10
    most indie albums, even really excellent ones tend to be all the same from beginning to end - Headlights could also have chosen to be that most indie albums, even really excellent ones tend to be all the same from beginning to end - Headlights could also have chosen to be that way but instead they took a risk and made a fantastic varied album that keeps the listeners attention to the very last sound - they should be applauded for this - it is a nonsensical idea that an album must always be a matched set - a variety of interesting pieces is far more rewarding , challenging and ultimately satisfying, than any matched set -… Expand
  2. 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.… Expand
  4. 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.… Expand
  5. 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.… Expand

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 If I don't make it, I love u - Still House Plants
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
90 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
88 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
87 Bright Future - Adrianne Lenker
All Current Music »