|
| |
|
|
|
TV On The Radio formed in 2001 with it's two core members (both of them being visual artists in addition to being music artists), vocalist Tunde Adebimpe and multi instrumentalist David Andrew Sitek. Based in Brooklyn, the group mixes indie, post-punk and electronic atmospheric music into their unique sound. 2004 was a big year for the group. They released their debut album, "Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes" on Touch and Go Records. They did tours of their own, along with tours with the Pixies and the Faint. Their album won the 2004 Shortlist Prize. At this point in time, it's safe to say that for TV On The Radio, the sky is the limit.
Album Credits
Tunde Adebimpe - Vocals, Loops, Group Member
Jaleel Bunton - Drums
Katrina Ford - Vocals
Kyp Malone - Guitar, Vocals, Loops, Group Member
Martin Perna - Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone)
David Andrew - Sitek Composer, Producer, Group Member
Track List
1. Wrong Way
2. Staring At The Sun
3. Dreams
4. King Eternal
5. Ambulance
6. Poppy
7. Don't Love You
8. Bomb Yourself
9. Wear You Out
http://www.southern.com/southern/ban...2003_r2_c1.jpg
When TV On The Radio released the "Young Liars EP" it was an extremely pleasant surprise for a unique band to seemingly come out of nowhere. As one music reviews website said of the group's sound:
" Parping sax, dense, bludgeoning industrial bass throbs, and a cracked sleazy nursery gospel are just the first noises that hit your ears on the opening seconds of TV On The Radio"s shimmering debut. Featuring an opening lyric of intent "Woke up in a magic nigga movie/ With the bright light pointed at me as a metaphor". This is clearly not Coldplay."
They couldn't be more right really. This album is full of strange and wierd sounds that aren't heard very often. With lots of strange atmospheric effects, pounding distorted bass lines, odd sounding brass instruments, completely acapella tracks, crazy harmonies and much more, this record is not your average indie rock release.
The album kicks off with the track, "The Wrong Way". It starts with some saxophone parts and then an extremely distorted bass line. Then the crazy vocals come in, sounding like a broken record from the 30s. Almost all of the tracks are as odd as this, just listen to a track such as "Ambulance". The song is entirely acapella with a backing singer making jibberish type noises to serve as a baseline while the lyrics are sung over the top. Even the album's more conventional songs such as "Staring at the Sun" (the only track to be featured off the band's EP) and "Dreams" have wierd guitar and bass sounds and crazy harmonies between the two vocalists.
When people talk about this album, a lot of people are fascinated with the wierd and crazy sounds on this album, which are great. But the way the album is talked about, you'd think that the album is just made up of odd avant-garde noise. This is not the case. The album is extremely accessible, sounding simultaniously innovative, wierd and accessible. It's quite easy to imagine some of the more accessible tracks of the album ("Dreams", "Staring At The Sun, "King Eternal") being heard on the radio alongside bands such as The Strokes and Kings Of Leon. Even some of the more obscure tracks have a good and fun feel behind them that make them hard not to love.
Although the music on the album is of an exceptional standard, lyrically, this band are again, excellent. The lyrics on their own could work very well as pieces of poetry. However, when the awesome instrumentation is added, these songs really turn into something special. Lyrically, Adepimbe explores themes such a being a black man and black culture, materialism and misplaced violence and anger. With two black members, it is an amazing feat that the group manage to insert these type of lyrics (which are usually associated with urban and hip-hop music) into such a "white man's genre" as experimental indie rock. The group aren't trying to be something that they aren't, it's very obvious that these guys are proud of their race, and it is shown in the way that they incorporate so called "black genres" into their music such as jazz and soul. TV On The Radio's music is extremely fascinating and hard not to like. This is an extremely impressive debut and hints at the potential that TV On The Radio have for the future. An extremely strong contender for album of the year.
Pros
- Unique and interesting music
- Fun sounds
- Excellent lyrics
- Great instrumentation
Cons
- Can you think of any?
Reccomended Tracks
The Wrong Way
Dreams
Ambulance
FINAL RATING: 4/5
| other reviews of this album |
AtavanHalen (4.5)
The band that sound like everyone and no one at the same time release breathtaking debut that sounds...
|
|
There are a few good songs, but overall I was very disappointed in the record after hearing people hailing it as the best of the year. I appreciate the artistic side of it and breaking new ground for music, but it just isn't as listenable as I would like. I'd give it a 3/5.
Nice review Br3ad.
| | |
[QUOTE=br3ad_man]nigga[/QUOTE]
tee hee.
Good review. Scott's playin' da fool. This CD is solid shiat yo!?
5/5
| | |
awsome review of an awsomer cd. I couldn't believe that no one had done this yet.
| | |
[QUOTE=Scott Herren]There are a few good songs, but overall I was very disappointed in the record after hearing people hailing it as the best of the year. I appreciate the artistic side of it and breaking new ground for music, but it just isn't as listenable as I would like. I'd give it a 3/5.
Nice review Br3ad.[/QUOTE]
That's what I thought for a while too. It clicked for me after a while. Thanks 
| | |
It's not about clicking or not. I just don't like the last 3 songs. Period. It is still a good solid record because I think there are 4 great songs, "King Eternal", "The Wrong Way", "Ambulance", and "Staring At the Sun".
| | |
Yeah, I understand. I was just saying how it was for me.
| | |
I was gonna review this, but I just can't get interested in it enough. I guess I just don't get the hype for this one.
| | |
I was gonna review this, but I just can't get interested in it enough. I guess I just don't get the hype for this one.
| | |
[QUOTE=Scott Herren]There are a few good songs, but overall I was very disappointed in the record after hearing people hailing it as the best of the year. I appreciate the artistic side of it and breaking new ground for music, but it just isn't as listenable as I would like. I'd give it a 3/5.
Nice review Br3ad.[/QUOTE]Same with me.
| | |
I
| | |
I've heard about half of this album, and it's pretty good. Based on what I've heard, it wouldn't be a perfect 5, though. Still, some good stuff, and a good review.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
great review, but in the brackets where you indicate the genre, its actually awesome-core, not indie rock.
| | |
It's not a 5/5.
| | |
Nice work. I was planning on giving it somewhere around 3.5 simply for the fact that Tunde's voice could melt a woman's panties from 500 meters away.
| | |
Actually, looking back, 5/5 was way too generous. I'm changing it to 4/5
| | |
Haha, drastic change.
If I was rating it I'd go with like 4.55/5.
| | |
I'm pretty much a TVOTR fanboy at this stage. I love this band, nice review, awesome album. But yeah I wouldn't give it a 5/5 either, 4/5 sounds about right. It had to grow on me, at first I thought it was a step down from the Young Liars EP, but now I think it's actually a lot better.
One thing, it seems like every review or article about them has to make an issue of their skin colour, and sometimes they kinda congratulate them as if it's amazing that black people can make great music. But then I guess they make race an issue themselves, in the lyrics to The Wrong Way, so... I dunno. This isn't directed at you specifically br3ad, it's just a general thing.
| | |
I'd go with a 4.7
Its not perfect, but, to my knowledge its the best thing thats come out this year. Well reviewed.
| | |
I love this band heavily. Good review, awesome-core album.
This album took a little while to get into for me, for a long time I thought it was a step down from the Young Liars EP, but now I actually like it a lot more.
But yeah, it's not a 5/5... I think their best is yet to come. I mean, it's a great album, but they have potential for even better. I'd give this one a 4/5.
And it's the second best album to come out this year.
| | |
This is a decent album from a band to watch. 3.5/5.
| | | |
|
| |
