Albums to watch

Ash and Ice

The Kills

Ash and Ice

Fifth album from Alison Mosshart and guitarist Jamie Hince, who go by "VV" and "Hotel", co-produced by John O'Mahoney

ADM rating[?]

6.4

Label
Domino
UK Release date
03/06/2016
US Release date
03/06/2016
  1. 8.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    Ash & Ice ultimately represents the contemporary tension of two talented artists finding their way back from the brink by leaning on each other as well as their music
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  2. 8.0 |   Loud And Quiet

    The Kills have grown out of the staccato-riff-against-processed-beat template that’s defined them
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  3. 8.0 |   The Arts Desk

    A not-too-glossy bluesy art-rocker that exudes angst and misery and a more than slightly practiced cool
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  4. 8.0 |   NME

    The Kills are finally hitting their peak, but a low-key kind of peak
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  5. 8.0 |   DIY

    A band confident in their own skin, their identity clearer than ever
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  6. 8.0 |   Q

    A bold restatement of just what makes The Kills unique. Print edition only

  7. 8.0 |   God Is In The TV

    If guitar music needed an album perfectly demonstrating how to move forward: Ash & Ice is it
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  8. 7.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    Where it’s good, it’s almost maddeningly good, and the band’s attempts to broaden their scope aren’t without merit
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  9. 7.0 |   All Music

    Even if they're lacking some of their expected swagger, it adds truth to Ash & Ice's portraits of what remains after the worst happens
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  10. 7.0 |   Exclaim

    The Kills' fifth studio album might not bring anything particularly new and groundbreaking to their discography, but it certainly won't disappoint fans.
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  11. 7.0 |   Uncut

    They're back on compelling track, cranking their songs' rhythmic drive while focusing as much on structure as mardy atmospherics. Print edition only

  12. 6.3 |   Earbuddy

    The album starts off hot, turns warm, and ends cold
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  13. 6.2 |   Pitchfork

    The blues may have brought Mosshart and Hince together, but Ash & Ice too readily embodies one of the genre’s favored tropes—the struggle to keep on’ keepin’ on
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  14. 6.0 |   State

    This is an album that demands perseverance, but it is worth it for the songs that hark back to what The Kills used to be
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  15. 6.0 |   Gig Soup

    While not exactly a phoenix-like rise from the ashes, the slow-burning scuzziness of the rest of the record will not leave garage rock toting millennials totally cold
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  16. 6.0 |   The Music

    Lacks spontaneity and fails to play to The Kills' strengths
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  17. 6.0 |   musicOMH

    Mosshart and Hince have managed to deliver once again
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  18. 6.0 |   Spin

    13 songs is a long time to listen to a band whose idea of pacing is driving the speed limit
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  19. 6.0 |   Mojo

    The Kills sound less lived-in, more worn out. Print edition only

  20. 6.0 |   The Guardian

    The same old riffs, but a spark remains
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  21. 6.0 |   The Digital Fix

    It is undeniably one of the more laid back efforts from the transatlantic duo, but there are times where it feels like they have purposely restrained and throttled themselves
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  22. 5.8 |   A.V. Club

    The uneven execution demonstrates once again that the band’s undeniable live chemistry and charisma doesn’t always translate perfectly to its studio work
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  23. 5.5 |   Spectrum Culture

    With bands like the Black Keys and any number of imitators now becoming old hat, the gritty vocal and guitar snarl are familiar to a fault, and many of these tracks feel in need of tightening up
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  24. 5.0 |   Under The Radar

    You're left feeling unsatisfied by what The Kills have to offer
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  25. 4.2 |   Consequence Of Sound

    Once known for taking risks, the duo falls back on tricks that have now become commonplace
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  26. 4.0 |   The 405

    Far from taught thrills, I found this easy listening
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  27. 4.0 |   The Skinny

    While this isn’t a bad album, it does feel like a safe one (which is perhaps even worse)
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