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Midnight Boom - The Kills
User Score
8.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30

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  1. 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 than created. I think the NY Times have the closest review yet.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. EmmaP.
    Mar 21, 2008
    10
    Diaspora meets goth blues. Results? Evil, hypnotic and decadent playground chants. A truly impressive album.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. 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 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
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. SteveG.
    Apr 6, 2008
    8
    The only track that falls below 80% is cheap and cheerful, because its clearly a radio single, the rest are, at the very least, good enough for repeated listens. And Last Days of Magic? Too good to be true.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  5. GraceG.
    Mar 20, 2008
    10
    This is the best Kills album!I love all the tracks.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  6. 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 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
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  7. JamesH.
    Mar 19, 2008
    9
    Hey screw the NY Times! I love this album from beginning to end.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  8. DanielA.
    Mar 22, 2008
    8
    Brilliant and consistent. Tape Song, U R A Fever and Last Day of Magic are the standouts of a collection of stand out tracks.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  9. Vampire25
    Mar 23, 2011
    8
    Midnight Boom is a strange album. Has some really playful hooks but also some dark lyrics at the same time. Allison Mosshart mixes blues rock with some punk rock and it sounds great. Jamie Hince adds some great vocals also. All In All, Midnight Boom is a pretty good listen. B+
  10. Forestgravy
    May 28, 2011
    9
    This is just pure sleaze... and it's bloody marvellous! All the choonz deliver a hook that stay in your brain for weeks. The song structures, although simplistic, are extremely stylish which reflects the band members perfectly. It's not the most original or varied of music but if every band were like Radiohead the industry would collapse, brilliant as they are. Buy if you like uncomplicated guitar music, and because VV is fit.… Expand
  11. 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
  12. 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 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.
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Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 31
  3. Negative: 1 out of 31
  1. Austin Chronicle
    89
    Intense doesn't begin to describe Midnight Boom, but loop the Russian roulette sequence from "The Deer Hunter," splice in some grainy security-cam voyeur-porn, pop it in the Videodrome VCR, and you'll at least get the picture.
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  2. Rolling Stone
    70
    Florida-bred singer Alison Mosshart and British guitarist Jamie Hince built new tracks around the same sing-song rhythms. Their dark, sexy electro-rock sounds sharper and more memorable as a result.
    Read full review
  3. The Guardian
    40
    The trouble is the album peaks early. Once they're past the unwholesome love song 'URA Fever' and the twangy 'Last Day of Magic,' the band lose momentum.
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