Keep on Your Mean Side
The Kills · 2003
42 min · 12 tracks · indie rock
Raw, gritty guitar riffs collide with sultry vocals, encapsulating the rebellious spirit of early 2000s garage rock.
Top tracks — play these first
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Superstition — This opening track perfectly sets the tone for the album with its infectious energy and hypnotic rhythms, showcasing the band's signature blend of grit and melody.
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Kissy Kissy — With its catchy chorus and playful lyrics, this track exemplifies the duality of flirtation and danger present throughout the album.
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Fuck the People — This song stands out due to its confrontational lyrics and driving beat, reflecting the band's rebellious attitude while resonating strongly with the punk ethos.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album captures the raw energy of early 2000s garage rock with its gritty sound and overlapping vocals.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a raw, gritty tone, followed by a series of mid-tempo songs that maintain this intensity.
- Vocals often overlap with guitar riffs, creating a dense sound where melodies are frequently obscured by the instrumentation.
- Several tracks feature abrupt endings or transitions, contributing to a sense of urgency and spontaneity throughout the record.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo flow
- gritty, raw sonic textures
- immersive listening experience
- contemplative late-night vibes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in January 2003, Keep on Your Mean Side is The Kills' debut album, marking their entry into the indie rock scene. At this time, they were establishing their distinct sound and aesthetic, blending punk influences with a lo-fi sensibility that set them apart from their contemporaries.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs· The White Stripes· Interpol
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Superstition 4:40
- 2 Cat Claw 3:32
- 3 Pull a U 3:23
- 4 Kissy Kissy 5:02
- 5 Fried My Little Brains 2:08
- 6 Hand 0:50
- 7 Hitched 4:02
- 8 Black Rooster 4:24
- 9 Wait 4:47
- 10 Fuck the People 4:17
- 11 Monkey 23 3:06
- 12 Gypsy Death and You 2:10
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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