The Kills (Domino)

This album by electro-garage rock duo the Kills, their third studio outing in five years, has been receiving rave reviews and one listen is enough to understand why. Alison Mosshart's bright yet dark vocals are the perfect foil to Jamie "Hotel" Hince's guitar riffs and the opener, "URA Fever", is a great song, with an effortless beat, terrific sound effects and a quirky hook. "What New York Used To Be" serves up solid garage rock while "Black Balloon" is a classic Kills ballads.

Dropping the Writ

Cass McCombs

(Domino)

This young American singer/songwriter delivers his own brand of breezy Californian folk-rock in a soothing tenor that brightens up even the gloomiest day. "That's That" in the first single an, like the opener, "Lionkiller", it's a solid rock number. "Full Moon or Infinity" is an acoustic gem, and  "Petrified Forest", "Morning Shadows", and "Windfall" showcase his excellent voice. "Dropping the Writ" is an enjoyable album. Highly recommended.