Headlights - Kill Them With Kindness

Headlights
Kill Them With Kindness (Polyvinyl, 2006)
Grade: B+

Headlights - "TV"

Kill Them With Kindness, the debut full-length from Champaign, Ill. natives Headlights, was massively overlooked in 2006. The album is dynamic and creative, two distinctive traits that pull the album in many directions, which was seen as unfocused, but I see as experimental.

Headlights have a hard time escaping comparisons to Stars, but I actually think Headlights are the better of the two – it's true. Mainly because Headlights accomplish what few bands can: create dark moods and movements within the framework of a pop song and actually keep things interesting.

The record is comprised of guy-girl harmonies (adorable ones, mind you) and reminds of an era when shoe-gazers were in, while being both graceful and just damn pretty.

Most-of-the-time lead-singer Erin Fein has a great voice. Breathy and pretty, Fein brings you in with her sad vocal cadences and equally as sad observations of the world.

Every song on the album has something to offer, but this is my favorite.

Furthermore, Headlights are playing at the 7th St. Entry this Wednesday (April 4) at 9 p.m. Be there or be LAME!

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(Ian Anderson)