Buzzin Music

The Kills – Black Balloon – single review

The Kills: Black Balloon

The Kills have released their new single ‘Black Balloon’ from their third album Midnight Boom. The Black Balloon EP features two acoustic B-sides including a cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘44’.

‘Black Balloon’ is relatively docile for the punky, garage band, using the metaphor of a black balloon to signify loss and the need to move on. The second verse features some exquisite lyrics:

“I’ve stood in a thousand street scenes / just around the corner from you / on the edge of a dream that you have / has anybody ever told you it’s not coming true?”

Alison Mosshart’s dead-pan tone and the almost robotic nature of the composition lace the song with ambiguity as to how it should to be received. Is it off-hand and really rather brutal? Or is this the acknowledgement of mistreatment by somebody else and resigned decision to break up?

Certainly the emphasis is on lyrics in ‘Black Balloon’, and they really make this song all the more special.

‘Black Balloon’ is out on 10” vinyl and as a digital download.  This is the video, directed by Kenneth Capello, featuring tour footage of the band:

Visit The Kills’ MySpace here.