A few weeks back The Quietus ran a track by track review of TV On The Radio's third record which culminated in, "Finally they have proved themselves to be up there with Liars as the most interesting band to come out of the Williamsburg scene." A somewhat odd assertion considering that Liars have probably done their best and most interesting work since they decamped to Berlin before they recorded Drums Not Dead. But the other part of the statement, spot on. Jesus they're a good band with all sorts of wonderful ideas. But also one that released a sporadically brilliant but for the most part patchy and disappointing second album in Return To Cookie Mountain. In fact there is a line of thinking that says that the best thing they've ever done is their debut Young Liars EP.
It's with all that in mind that I write that Dear Science might just be the best album I've heard all year. A sprawling affair that sees a band who have always been fearless about dipping their collective toes into a myriad of styles really push themselves into areas that they've not explored before. The preview track "Golden Age" that they put up on their website in mid August hinted a little at Off The Wall era Michael Jackson and the rest of the album shows that that wasn't just a little diversion that allowed the band to have a little experimental fun and throw their fanbase for a loop before they returned to their familiar free jazz and doo wop influenced brand of indie. They've fully embraced the funk on Dear Science and in doing so have come up with an odd mix of danceable riffs and beats set on top of droning, washed out synths.
But there's far more to this album then tunes you can tap your feet to, there's songs built around string and harp samples. African drum beats, which are kinda ubiquitous in 2008, crop up here and there and one song, "Family Tree" is reminiscent of Radiohead circa Kid A. This is the record that I always thought they could make, one with nothing on it that could be described as a bum song and unless something jumps me from behind unexpectedly in the next 4 months it's in all likelihood the album that will top my end of year list.
MP3: TV On The Radio - Red Dress from Dear Science.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
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7 comments:
Truly awesome album. I just listened back to their other albums this morning and it's one of those quantum leaps forward. That first song "Halfway Home" is incredible
I just listened back to their other albums this morning and it's one of those quantum leaps forward
Yeah, they've always been a band that's capable of writing brilliant songs but this is their first great album. Glad to see that Sitek didn't blow his wad on Scarlett.
Uh... yeah. This is absolutely brilliant and completely unexpected. I'd say it's probably the second best album I've heard this year.
What do you have topping it?
For all the praise I've lavished on it here and elsewhere now watch as I grow bored of it in 2 weeks and look really foolish.
Mogwai.
Good record, final track in particular is a stormer.
Batcat EP is rubbish though, second song ruins everything.
I think i'm with you on this one Ian, more than likely this'll be number one at the end of the year.
It's got all their depth in content, trademark amazing production, experimentation galore... and yet it still feels like a pop record. How good is that?
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