Comprised of ex-pat American "V.V." (a.k.a. Alison) on vocals and guitar and Briton "Hotel" (a.k.a. Jamie) on guitar and vocals(plus their trusty drum machine and dictaphone), The Kills have spent the last year building a smoldering live reputation. Keep On Your Mean Side more than fulfills the promise of the debut EP (most of which is also included here). The duo mine primal, swampy blues riffs and forge them into sparkling hooks. There's a swaggering confidence and tension in the interplay that recalls the allure of early X when they were at the height of their powers.