The Kills “Black Rooster E.P.” 2002/2017 (limited edition RSD reissue, 750 copies, red vinyl). Domino Records. Featuring VV and Hotel (VV=Alison Mosshart and Hotel=Jamie Hince), Black Rooster was The Kills’ debut EP, five tracks of lo-fi garage punk. Side A has “Cat Claw” (edgy indie power pop with serious riot grrrl attitude) and “Black Rooster (Fuck and Fight)” is dark and slinky and on which Mosshart and Hince share vocals, reminding me of Boss Hog’s Jon Spencer and Cristina Martinez. Side B has three tracks: “Wait” (which borders on alt-country), a darkly gritty Velvet Undergroundesque-freakout cover of Captain Beefhart’s “Dropout Boogie (‘live’ at the Paint It Black 4/4/02),” and the seriously creepy and disturbing “Gum (Intermission ‘Red Meat Heart’).”

The (very old) review of Black Rooster on Allmusic is hysterical (in hindsight): “Both singers, the guy and girl team of VV and Hotel, have their own distinctive, stylish voice and they sound great together. Their music has a fair amount of sexiness and the listener will undoubtedly want to hear more. But there’s only four songs here and the second two are fine, but don’t live up to the potential of the first two. Who knows? This could be a great band.” Hahaha!

Runout groove Side A: HEY SAY WHAT BOZZA ALCHEMY Runout groove Side B: FUCK THE PEOPLE