YEAH YEAH YEAHS
IT’S BLITZ!
Interscope Records
8/10
The new offering from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs bursts open with its hand showing for all to see, and it seems to read: “Ladies and gentlemen, we have been listening to a lot of new wave.” The opening track, “Zero,” is equal parts Gary Numan and Duran Duran, while the following track, “Heads Will Roll,” brings Annie Lennox and the Eurythmics to mind.
The departure from a purely rock-inspired sound doesn’t stop there though. “Soft Shock” has atmospheric space rock undertones that are nicely complemented by driving beats and heavy guitar fuzz. In fact, amidst the new wave leanings, there is a lot of space rock influence here. “Skeletons” is awash with sonic textures, and “Dull Life” begins with throbbing guitars and keys before bursting into a Franz Ferdinand-esque dance punk romp complete with what I’m fairly certain is some barely discernible tambourine action.
Or maybe it’s just maracas, like the ones that open “Shame and Fortune,” a rock tune that builds momentum with each passing bar. It has an almost tribal vibe to it that conjures images of some bizarre punk-wave natives rhythmically circling a large beachfront bonfire, spitting mouthfuls of grain alcohol through torches, tossing Pat Boone records into the flames, and stomping in the sand as Karen O. exclaims “All fortune on the floor” ad infinitum.
“Dragon Queen” makes me think of 1960s spy films one second and sexploitation films the next. “Hysteric” is simply wonderful. Layered with gentle melodies echoing in the background of O’s soft proclamation (yes, I said soft- this album is decidedly more quiet than previous efforts) that “you suddenly complete me,” the song takes us on a beautiful trip until a couple of powerful horns enter, eventually joined by some whistling, to carry us out of what, for me, would have made the perfect closer to the album. The band opted to close out the album with “Little Shadow,” which is no slacker of a tune itself.
Altogether, this is a very complete album. It’s solid from one end to the next and takes the band in a few pleasant new directions. Its poppier moments will have you wanting to dance, while its finer moments show the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at their most introspective yet, exposing a sensitive side that makes for a truly stellar ride.
–Luke Toney