A minimalist duo with maximum impact, the Kills appeared during the early-2000s garage rock revival, but proved more enduring and inventive than many of their contemporaries. Together, Jamie Hince's eloquently jagged guitar playing and Alison Mosshart's ability to snarl and sigh with equal conviction created sparks. This chemistry was key to their music as it evolved from the scrappy blues-punk of 2003's Keep on Your Mean Side to the forward-thinking mix of garage rock, hip-hop, and electro pop of 2008's Midnight Boom. By the time of 2016's shadowy Ash & Ice, the Kills had mastered an unmistakably stylish and raw sound that nevertheless defied easy classification. ~ Heather Phares