More on: Boy Kill Boy

Label: Universal
Release Date: 22/05/06
Rating:

Remember The Bravery? A band with a couple of half-decent tunes, overworked hair stylists and a huge debt to The Killers? If there ever was a band to take their mantle this side of the pond, then Boy Kill Boy seem more than prepared to step in.

Like the New Yorkers' debut, 'Civilian' is nothing short of boring. Singles 'Back Again' and 'Suzie' stand out miles above the remaining tracks, with only 'Friday Friday' raising the stakes, and that's because it sounds like it belongs on The Ordinary Boys' debut; Chris Peck's Morrissey impression sounding like Preston at best, Brandon Flowers at worst.

'On And On', 'Six Minutes' and 'On My Own' can't help but show up the band's lack of lyrical prowess, such rhyming couplets of 'own' and 'phone', 'eyes' and 'lullabies', while 'Ivy Parker', which shows potential as a soaring indie anthem, is let down by the dreadful backing vocals, and stifled production.

It's this lack of energy in the tracks which ensures 'Civilian' doesn't rise above average. Where The Killers used theirs to force dancefloor anthems from Brandon Flowers' monotony, Boy Kill Boy let themselves down; the dumbed-down synths and guitars only making the tracks sound more contrived as the record plays on. Like The Bravery, Boy Kill Boy have produced an album entirely of filler.

Emma Swann

Boy Kill Boy Official Site
Boy Kill Boy Myspace