“DOING IT TO DEATH”
“Doing It To Death”, The Kills’ first single from the upcoming Ash & Ice album due out June 3rd is a well-choreographed walk through a cemetery if you’re only watching the video, but there is a lot more beneath the surface – pun intended. The musically minimalist cautionary tale about the pitfalls of excess, rains prudence on souls chasing dreams and indulgences alike.
Like a defibrillator for the fast expiring hedonists, the opening drum machine and synth sequence is a nifty warning of the impending shock. The guitar riff that follows wakes up the dying in a hurry with beautifully simple and pining notes. The soaring progression, much like this thing called life, is both abrupt and complete and transitions seamlessly to Allison Mosshart’s matter-of-fact words of wisdom. The self-inflicted irony of “you know we can’t stop it now”, is not lost on those rolling the dice on the pursuits both deep and shallow. The rhythmic tune gains momentum with Jamie Hince joining in on the chorus to lend complexity and gravity to the decadent state of affairs. But not all is lost in the paradise under the sky. The journey to the final destination, for many, is grounded in trials and tribulations of the pursuit of dreams as well.
We all find ourselves “double sixing it night after night” at some point in our lives. Experimenting with musical style and finding a new direction is a high stakes proposition for any band. With garage rock sound making a strong comeback, the mission of finding home for the good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll is well underway. Strong guitar and vocal chords to carry a message are a must. All other ingredients can be mixed artfully and at will as long as someone is willing to commit to their vision before the last stop.
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