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Midnight Boom
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Midnight Boom Image
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 43 Ratings

  • Summary: The third album for the indie rock duo of Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince.

Top Track

Cheap And Cheerful
I'm bored of cheap and cheerful I want expensive sadness Hospital bills, parole Open doors to madness I want you to be crazy 'Cause you're boring... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 31
  3. Negative: 1 out of 31
  1. MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)
    91
    As vision, still somewhere between narrow and ignant. Yet not a boho archetype for nothing.
  2. Delusions of Adequacy
    90
    Everything about Midnight Boom is impeccably executed.
  3. Uncut
    80
    The results--notably 'Cheap And Cheerful,' which suggests that Britney Spears' 'Toxic' made quite an impact on them and the chaotic 'Alphabet Pony'--are a revelation.
  4. cokemachineglow
    75
    It’s the instant gratification--the sheer consistency of fun--that makes Midnight Boom so irresistible to begin with. It is what it is, basically.
  5. Spin
    70
    The duo's relentless cool never quite tips over into White Stripes-style heat, giving Midnight Boom the unapproachable, icy allure of a runway model. [Mar 2008, p.104]
  6. Village Voice
    70
    More glamorous but less versatile, the Kills are the easier listen, particularly if their superficiality is taken to be deliberate.
  7. The New York Times
    30
    These aren’t very good songs, and the band’s agenda--sounding bored and chic, simultaneous distancing and beckoning, creating revulsion and desire--seems to tilt, in the end, more toward fashion than music.

See all 31 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. gingy
    Jul 27, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Midnight Boom sometimes is a flirt with electronic music, sometimes just indie and I must say: it is even better than harsh, garage sound from No Wow. The best word that describes my personal favourite, "Last Day of Magic", is just... sexy. Every song is approachable and you cannot easily forget that wonderful music.… Expand
  2. EmmaP.
    Mar 21, 2008
    10
    Diaspora meets goth blues. Results? Evil, hypnotic and decadent playground chants. A truly impressive album.
  4. conquertheworld
    Mar 28, 2008
    10
    A true style over substance album, or is it? At heart the Kills are minimalist in vein of true indie greats like sonic youth, with the A true style over substance album, or is it? At heart the Kills are minimalist in vein of true indie greats like sonic youth, with the exception that the Kills actually know how to have fun. This album is entertaining throughout w/ no filler tracks. Best of all is the birth of the sexy new lead singer who manages to sound both cocky and intelligent with dark cryptic lyrics. A lot of depth to this album, best indie release so far this year.… Expand
  5. JeremyF.
    Mar 19, 2008
    9
    This is nearly perfect. Only bad song is "Last Day Of Magic." I think it's boring. "URA FEVER" and "Cheap and Cheerful" are both This is nearly perfect. Only bad song is "Last Day Of Magic." I think it's boring. "URA FEVER" and "Cheap and Cheerful" are both punching dancey rock songs, and "Tape Song"'s wailing chorus is a definite highlight. "Hook and Line" is a nice little jaunt, while the next song, "Black Balloon", is a stunning slowed down number. It's a beautiful song, and one of the best on the record. In the first verse, she sounds a little like Shirley Manson. It's just a great song. The two less-than-2-minute songs are great, especially "Alphabet Pony," with its rollicking chorus. "What New York Used to Be" may be the best song, describing how cool everything else used to be, and how it's changed so much since then. It leads into the classically slowed down closer "Goodnight Bad Morning," a simplistic track reminiscent of KEEP ON YOUR BAD SIDE's fantastic last breath, "Gypsy Death & You." This is a fantastic record and I don't understand the negative reviews bashing the music or the lyrics. The music is pure fun; simple, but fun. The sound is great. And the songwriting doesn't HAVE to be immaculate, considering this isn't a lyrical record. It's a fun, garage-style rock record, and it's one of the best, if not THE best, record of 2008 thus far.… Expand
  6. JamesH.
    Mar 19, 2008
    9
    Hey screw the NY Times! I love this album from beginning to end.
  7. Ricko
    Feb 15, 2012
    8
    Third record from one of the coolest sounding bands around. This has the Kills most instant and accessible songs and the first half of theThird record from one of the coolest sounding bands around. This has the Kills most instant and accessible songs and the first half of the record goes by at blistering pace. Mosshart does some of her best work here. The second half slows down a bit and closes beautifully with the brilliantly titled Goodnight Bad Morning.… Expand
  8. seeds13
    May 10, 2008
    5
    I really only enjoyed one track off this album. The Kills seem to have lost their edge on Midnight Boom. Most tracks feel compiled rather I really only enjoyed one track off this album. The Kills seem to have lost their edge on Midnight Boom. Most tracks feel compiled rather than created. I think the NY Times have the closest review yet.… Collapse

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