The Kills are an extraordinarily intense band. Alison (VV) and Jamie (Hotel) complement each other well. His guitar playing is catchy and gritty at the same time. Her vocals are passionate and raw. There is absolutely no showmanship in their performances. The track I enjoyed the most was 'Wait', a slower sweeter song. I have always been a sucker for Alison's softer singing even back in the days of her pop punk band Discount. She has a truly amazing voice. With the surge in the popularity of rock and blues music it would be easy to group these two with some of the more widely known musicians making headlines, but they truly deserve a place of their own. The music is honest, chaotic, sexy and above all artistic. It's Brit meets America and it will blow you away.

When it comes to indiefolk co-opting the blues, I think this is how it should be done. The Kills are 2 pretentious scenester-types, caught up in the dingy romance of the down-and-out-poseur life. And it sounds great. I'll take this over Jack White's squeaky-clean reverance any day (sorry Jack, but I think this kind of self-mythologizing is truer to the spirit of the blues; but, that version of "Death Letter" on 'De Stijl' tears it up). My one complaint is that it's a little bit samey: "Fried My Little Brains" sounds a lot like "Hitched" sounds a lot like "F*#k the People." Not that that's a bad way to sound, it just gets a little tiresome. But speaking of "F*#k the People," I think it gets the award for Best Use of Profanity, 2003. It's tough these days to get any kind of thrill when a pop singer cusses, but I think I'd be more likely to turn down "F*#k the People" than I would something dumb like the Offspring's "Bad Habit," if my mom were around. Dunno why exactly, it just sounds dirtier coming out of VV's (assuredly filthy) mouth. Anyway, if you're looking for a bluesy minimalist indie punk album, pick up 'Keep on Your Mean Side.'

So I was thinking when I got this that it would be another garageist reviaval band. It's not, trust me. There's more sophistication in the lyrics, more polish to the sound (which is so rich I want to go out and buy this in Vinyl--and a turntable), and yes, even more anger and heart. Sometimes it's the only record I want to listen to.

Yes, that means I like them more than the White Stripes and the Strokes.

Oh yeah, and VV is the freshest female vocal since Corin Tucker.

And Oh, there's an electric viola somewhere.

And to think, this is their first album. I'll definately be following this band around.

This is a great album - dirty, twangy, guitar driven bluesy rock with plenty of feedback left in for your listening pleasure. Buy this now!

FYI - they sound absolutely nothing like the White Stripes. If I had to make a comparison, they remind me a lot of the Velvet Underground and Jesus And Mary Chain, but much more upbeat than either of those bands (which are also really good).

Warning to new listeners, this is going to disturb you like sandpaper on the skin. VV is the new icon we have been waiting for a bit of time now, maybe since the appearance of Poison Ivy from the Cramps or of Chrissie Hynde. The PJ Harvey link is less obvious to me, as VV is from the US and misses some of Polly Jean's "old world" sophistication. Her boyfriend Hotel, former punkish derelict, is a truly British guy and the music this pair produces is very efficient and oozing enthusiasm. You can find hints of lessons learned from the Velvet U. (circa third album) to the Gun Club. This band has a bright future in front of them and Miss VV is dramatically attractive when she sings as if her life was in danger.I would not be surprised if from their contemporary contenders (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Libertines and BRMC) they will be the ones to emerge.