2016 studio album by the Kills
Ash & Ice Released June 3, 2016 (2016-06-03 ) Studio
Key Club Recording Co. Mobile (Los Angeles)
Electric Lady (New York City)
Length 50 :42 Label Domino Producer Jamie Hince
"Doing It to Death" Released: March 1, 2016
"Heart of a Dog" Released: April 18, 2016
"Siberian Nights" Released: May 24, 2016
"Impossible Tracks" Released: September 13, 2016
Ash & Ice is the fifth studio album by indie rock band the Kills , released on June 3, 2016, through Domino .[ 1] [ 2]
The album was recorded in a rented house in Los Angeles and at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. It was produced by Jamie Hince and co-produced by John O'Mahoney.[ 3] [ 4] It was promoted by the singles "Doing It to Death" and "Heart of a Dog".
The album was made available as a CD – with a 20-page booklet with lyrics and album artwork – and as digital download .[ 5]
A limited-edition double LP was also made available. The LPs are coloured in blue and pink and packaged into a wide spine jacket with a gold foil imprint. The release also includes two fold-out posters, two printed inner sleeves and an exclusive lyric zine , with the first 250 orders signed by the band.[ 6]
The lead single from the album, "Doing It to Death", was released on March 1, 2016.[ 1] It was accompanied by a music video directed by Wendy Morgan.[ 7]
The second single from the album, "Heart of a Dog", and an accompanying music video directed by Sophie Muller , were released on April 18, 2016.[ 8]
"Siberian Nights" was released as the third single on May 24, 2016. A music video promoting the song was directed by American actor Giovanni Ribisi .[ 9] [ 10] [ 11] [ 12]
In support of the album, the band toured the United States from March to June 2016. The Kills also performed in Mexico City on March 16, in Amsterdam , Paris , London , Toronto and Vancouver in May 2016, and at the Isle of Wight Festival in June. In July, played at the U-Park Festival in Kyiv , Ukraine, and at the Park Live Festival in Moscow , Russia, as well as the Off Festival in Katowice , Poland, in August before returning to the U.S. in September and then back to Europe through October and November.[ 4] They performed "Whirling Eye" on The Late Late Show with James Corden on the October 21, 2016, episode.[ 13]
Critical reception
Ash & Ice received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic , which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 68, based on 21 reviews.[ 14] Writing for Exclaim! , Laura Sciarpelletti praised the band's "bare bones power technique".[ 18]
Pitchfork were decidedly cooler on the album's merits, awarding it a score of 6.2. They called the record "a little too chilled for its own good."[ 24]
Track listing
All tracks are written by the Kills , except where noted
Ash & Ice track listingTitle Writer(s) 1. "Doing It to Death" 4:07 2. "Heart of a Dog" 3:46 3. "Hard Habit to Break" 3:52 4. "Bitter Fruit" 4:14 5. "Days of Why and How" 4:32 6. "Let It Drop" 3:15 7. "Hum for Your Buzz" 3:17 8. "Siberian Nights" 4:53 9. "That Love" 2:33 10. "Impossible Tracks" 3:41 11. "Black Tar" 3:52 12. "Echo Home" 5:06 13. "Whirling Eye" 3:34
Sample credits
"Heart of a Dog" contains a sample of "Wildfire" performed by Sbtrkt featuring Little Dragon
"Days of Why and How" contains a sample of "Is There Any Love" performed by Trevor Dandy
"Let It Drop" contains a sample from "IMC" performed by Spank Rock
"Siberian Nights" uses elements from "UFO" written by Renee Scroggins
"Impossible Tracks" contains a sample of "I Thank the Lord" performed by the Mighty Voices of Wonder[ 25]
Personnel
The Kills
Additional musicians
Technical
Jamie Hince – production
John O'Mahoney – co-production
Tom Elmhirst – mixing[ a] (tracks 2, 4–9, 11–13)
Joe Visciano – engineering for mix (tracks 2, 4–9, 11–13)
Brandon Bost – mixing assistance (tracks 2, 4–9, 11–13)
Tchad Blake – mixing[ b] (tracks 1, 3, 10)
Phil Joly – engineering
Barry McCready – recording assistance
Bill Skibbe – engineering
Vanessa Silberman – recording assistance
Jon Gilbert – recording assistance
Kurt Uenala – drum editing, additional production
Brian Lucey – mastering[ c]
Artwork
Alison Mosshart – interior artwork, photographs
Jamie Hince – photographs
Brian Roettinger – design
Charts
Notes
References
^ a b Carley, Brennan (March 1, 2016). "The Kills Announce New Album, 'Ash & Ice,' With the Snarling 'Doing It To Death' " . Spin . Retrieved March 1, 2016 .
^ Mansfield, Mollie (March 1, 2016). "The Kills return with fifth album 'Ash & Ice' – watch 'Doing It To Death' video" . NME . Retrieved March 1, 2016 .
^ Minsker, Evan (March 1, 2016). "The Kills Announce New Album Ash & Ice, Share "Doing It to Death" Video" . Pitchfork . Retrieved March 1, 2016 .
^ a b "The Kills announce new album 'Ash & Ice', offer up 'Doing It To Death' " . DIY . March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016 .
^ "CD" . Domino Recording Company . Retrieved March 1, 2016 .
^ "Deluxe LP and zine" . Domino Recording Company. Retrieved March 1, 2016 .
^ "The Kills – Doing It To Death (Official Video)" . March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016 – via YouTube .
^ Carley, Brennan (April 18, 2016). "The Kills Prep for 'Ash & Ice' With New Single, 'Heart Of A Dog' " . Spin . Retrieved May 13, 2016 .
^ Havenson, Lyndsey (May 24, 2016). "The Kills share new song/video for "Siberian Nights" — watch" . Consequence of Sound . Retrieved June 3, 2016 .
^ Spanos, Brittany (May 24, 2016). "Watch the Kills' Chilling 'Siberian Nights' Video" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2016 .
^ Minsker, Evan (May 25, 2016). "Watch the Kills' "Siberian Nights" Video" . Pitchfork . Retrieved June 3, 2016 .
^ Carley, Brennan (May 24, 2016). "Wolves Dash Through the Darkness in the Kills' New 'Siberian Nights' Video" . Spin . Retrieved June 3, 2016 .
^ The Late Late Show with James Corden (October 21, 2016). "The Kills: Whirling Eye" . Retrieved October 23, 2016 – via YouTube.
^ a b "Reviews for Ash & Ice by The Kills" . Metacritic . Retrieved June 3, 2016 .
^ Phares, Heather. "Ash & Ice – The Kills" . AllMusic . Retrieved July 18, 2016 .
^ Mayo, Amanda Roscoe (May 31, 2016). "The Kills – Ash & Ice" . Consequence of Sound . Retrieved June 3, 2016 .
^ Brown, Eric Renner (June 3, 2016). "The Kills' Ash & Ice" . Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved June 16, 2016 .
^ a b Sciarpelletti, Laura (June 1, 2016). "The Kills – Ash and Ice" . Exclaim! . Retrieved August 24, 2016 .
^ Jonze, Tim (June 2, 2016). "The Kills: Ash & Ice review – the same old riffs, but a spark remains" . The Guardian . Retrieved June 3, 2016 .
^ Baber, Andy (June 13, 2016). "The Kills – Ash & Ice" . musicOMH . Retrieved June 16, 2016 .
^ Daly, Rhian (June 1, 2016). "The Kills – 'Ash & Ice' Review" . NME . Retrieved June 3, 2016 .
^ Berman, Stuart (June 7, 2016). "The Kills: Ash & Ice Album Review" . Pitchfork . Retrieved June 16, 2016 .
^ Gaca, Anna (June 14, 2016). "Review: The Kills' 'Ash & Ice' Has Too Much Ballast to Weather the Storm" . Spin . Retrieved June 16, 2016 .
^ "Ash & Ice Review" . Pitchfork . Pitchfork. June 7, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2024 .
^ Ash & Ice (liner notes). The Kills . Domino Recording Company . 2016. WIGCD289.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ "Australiancharts.com – The Kills – Ash & Ice" . Hung Medien. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
^ "Austriancharts.at – The Kills – Ash & Ice" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – The Kills – Ash & Ice" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – The Kills – Ash & Ice" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
^ "The Kills Chart History (Canadian Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved April 2, 2020.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Kills – Ash & Ice" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
^ "Lescharts.com – The Kills – Ash & Ice" . Hung Medien. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Kills – Ash & Ice" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts . Retrieved June 10, 2016.
^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 23, 2016" . Chart-Track . IRMA . Retrieved June 10, 2016.
^ "Charts.nz – The Kills – Ash & Ice" . Hung Medien. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
^ "Portuguesecharts.com – The Kills – Ash & Ice" . Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved March 17, 2022.
^ "Swisscharts.com – The Kills – Ash & Ice" . Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved June 11, 2016.
^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved March 17, 2022.
^ "The Kills Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved June 14, 2016.
^ "The Kills Chart History (Independent Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved March 17, 2022.
^ "The Kills Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved March 17, 2022.
^ "The Kills Chart History (Top Rock Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved March 17, 2022.
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