Also this issue: Mehta Physics Meet the man who’s turning the Kimmel into a world-music hot spot. -A.D. Amorosi Matter of Import The Brit in Big Sandy’s court. -Mary Armstrong Blistered in the Sun Unwrapping the Summer Tour Package. -Jesse Delaney The Sick Lipstick -Maura Johnston 4 Way Street -Nicole Pensiero Richard Thompson -Sam Adams Jamaican Dave's Birthday Bash -Ainé Ardon-Doley Tracy Chapman -M.J. Fine

July 17-23, 2003

musicpicks

The Kills

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, one listen to The Killsâ Keep on Your Mean Side (Rough Trade) would turn PJ Harvey the color of a Jersey tomato. The fact that theyâre a duo and neither of them plays bass (horrors!) has earned the three-year-old band its share of comparisons to a certain other color-coordinated rock revival pair, but consider this: The Killsâ Alison Mosshart, formerly of Discount, can actually sing. Thereâs an introspective, damaged feel to Mean Side that separates it from its extrovert contemporaries; the duoâs embrace of the quote-unquote blues might not be overly sincere, but itâs not wholly opportunistic, either. The way guitarist (among other things) Jamie Hince churns out snarling, Jon Spencer-y riffs has more to do with passion than fashion, though the album takes a dip every time his flat vocals come to the fore. Time will tell whether The Kills have the skills to pay the bills, but theyâve made a hefty down payment.

Rock/pop

Thu., July 17, 9 p.m., $10, with The Capitol Years and Undergirl, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.

—Sam Adams