Saturday 14 March 2009



Soft shock pt. 2

(photo: Facebook)

(photo: Facebook)

A week ago, I did  post about It’s Blitz!, the new album by NYC’s Yeah Yeah Yeahs, wherein I stated that for the longest time, I’ve always liked the idea of the band more than their actual music.  A tight three-piece fronted by a unique woman (like the first incarnation of PJ Harvey) can be a pretty intense experience. I appreciate the Yeah Yeah Yeahs recorded output over the years, but overall, it’s just never really done anything for me.

With this new album, their third, my sentiments are definitely changing.  The opening pulses of “Zero” and Karen O’s sultry delivery of the repetitive, hypnotic lyrics, it’s the perfect hybrid of dance’s beat sensibility and rock’s intensity and passion.  The electro-pop flourishes don’t dull the power of Nick Zimmer’s guitar playing (he is one of the coolest guitarists working today) or the tautness of Brian Chase’s drumming; I actually think it highlights and heightens their masterful interplay.  It’s the added colour that gives an otherwise unassuming song like “Dragon Queen” a depth and dimension to it that draws the listener in.

I wish there were more moments like “Runaway”, building an expansive and wide-open sound palette like they were able to do on the Is Is EP’s “Down Boy” (which–along with “Gold Lion”–were the only two Yeah Yeah Yeah songs I really liked before this album).  There are a few moments that sound a bit formulaic, and I’m certain will irk long-time fans, but for the most part, It’s Blitz! has been a pleasant surprise from a band I had previously written off.  It’s Blitz! is available now as a digital download from iTunes and Amazon, and will get its physical release on March 31st as a CD, and April 14th on vinyl.

MP3: Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Zero”
Myspace: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Facebook: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Download: Yeah Yeah Yeahs It’s Blitz!





by J. Di Gioia | Comments Off

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