i saw The Roots perform a Katrina Benefit show in Philadelphia's fine arts hall, and TV on the Radio was one of the opening bands. i had never heard of them before the bill for that show was listed, but when i started looking into them my anticipation grew. i was not disappointed.
imagine prince as a film student, and jerry garcia as a producer, both of whom had worked on the Yeah Yeah Yeah's last album. make them spend a week listening to my bloody valentine, morphine, six part vocal choirs, and the postal service. then lock them in a studio together, and you might get something like this album. that is if they didn't kill eachother or go insane.
this album is very ambient. backbeats are subtle and frail, if they're present at all. for the most part they only serve to keep the listener grounded somewhat so you don't get lost in the wall of sound and find your brain trickling out your ear. as a result this is not a casual listen. you can't really put this on as background music because at some point around the fourth or fifth track you'll find yourself saying "what the hell am i listening to?" i'll answer you now: awesomeness.
one of the best tracks on the album is the entirely a capella 'ambulance.' the only non human sounds on the track is some background noise that fades up towards the end and sounds like a waterfall. the lyrics; "i will be your ambulance if you will be my accident / and i will be your crutch and cast if you will be my one last chance" are simple but poignant and soulfully delivered. the bareness of the delivery on the album stands in stark contrast to the live performance of this song that had a driving backbeat, wailing guitars, and soaring, nearly mournful vocals. the closest thing you can find to this dichotomy on the album is the song 'staring at the sun.' at track 2 its a chilled out but grooving electronica track. as the last song on the album (labeled as a 'demo' whatever that really means) its a haunting and straining multi-part a capella.
other track picks are 'the wrong way' and 'wear you out.'
this album is a very difficult listen, i'll admit. there are no hooks. no catchy choruses. the vocalists are rarely sharp in their delivery. but its a rewarding listen as you'll find yourself picking up on the subtle and tastefully eclectic tidbits that make this such an original work. i'd also highly recommend their free internet release track 'dry drunk emperor.' it is a great example of their varying intricacies while maintaining a cohesiveness that certain tracks on this album lack.
7.9/10
imagine prince as a film student, and jerry garcia as a producer, both of whom had worked on the Yeah Yeah Yeah's last album. make them spend a week listening to my bloody valentine, morphine, six part vocal choirs, and the postal service. then lock them in a studio together, and you might get something like this album. that is if they didn't kill eachother or go insane.
this album is very ambient. backbeats are subtle and frail, if they're present at all. for the most part they only serve to keep the listener grounded somewhat so you don't get lost in the wall of sound and find your brain trickling out your ear. as a result this is not a casual listen. you can't really put this on as background music because at some point around the fourth or fifth track you'll find yourself saying "what the hell am i listening to?" i'll answer you now: awesomeness.
one of the best tracks on the album is the entirely a capella 'ambulance.' the only non human sounds on the track is some background noise that fades up towards the end and sounds like a waterfall. the lyrics; "i will be your ambulance if you will be my accident / and i will be your crutch and cast if you will be my one last chance" are simple but poignant and soulfully delivered. the bareness of the delivery on the album stands in stark contrast to the live performance of this song that had a driving backbeat, wailing guitars, and soaring, nearly mournful vocals. the closest thing you can find to this dichotomy on the album is the song 'staring at the sun.' at track 2 its a chilled out but grooving electronica track. as the last song on the album (labeled as a 'demo' whatever that really means) its a haunting and straining multi-part a capella.
other track picks are 'the wrong way' and 'wear you out.'
this album is a very difficult listen, i'll admit. there are no hooks. no catchy choruses. the vocalists are rarely sharp in their delivery. but its a rewarding listen as you'll find yourself picking up on the subtle and tastefully eclectic tidbits that make this such an original work. i'd also highly recommend their free internet release track 'dry drunk emperor.' it is a great example of their varying intricacies while maintaining a cohesiveness that certain tracks on this album lack.
7.9/10