The Last Goodbye

Just in time to commemorate their 10-year anniversary as a band, The Kills’ 2012 EP The Last Goodbye opens on a dirge of a title track with Alison Mosshart singing over an antique parlor piano and distant string accompaniment. Rather than taking her normal demure approach, she really leans into this one, displaying equal parts emotion and restraint. A cover of The Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes” brings Mosshart back to her signature aloof singing style, which fits perfectly with Lou Reed’s original intent. Jamie Hince perfectly nails the dirty-toned vintage guitar distortion, and the drumming mirrors Moe Tucker’s cymbal-free style of bombastic percussion. A spare cover of Ken Darby and Lionel Newman’s “One Silver Dollar” (originally sung by Marilyn Monroe in the 1954 western River of No Return) keeps close to the original recording’s simple structure of one Spanish-flavored acoustic guitar and one sultry chanteuse. The Kills close on a similarly minimal rendition of Willie Nelson’s standard “Crazy.” Mosshart’s subtly raspy voice sounds perfectly suited for this song.