Listen to the New TeeVahter Record
September 22nd, 2008
TV on the Radio (TVOTR), Brooklyn’s uberprogressive tech-rock outfit with the angelic singer (Tunde Adebimpe’s his name) and the white-guy producer with the Harry Caray glasses, has graciously uploaded their fancy new record, Dear Science, up over on their myspace page. You go listen now.
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I’ve listened to it a handful of times over the past week, and it definitely warrants a handful (or 6) more from anyone who calls themselves a fan. Where Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes was an eye-opening, avant garde trip into the minds of some jazzy, techno influenced rockers, and Return to Cookie Mountain was the magnum opus leap into unquestioned credibility, Dear Science finds the band still evolving, yet able to weave the familiar themes of modern-day poetry, emotive falsetto choruses, white-noise electronica, old skool hip-hop percussion, and the unmistakable afro-beat horn section. Not to mention Kyp Malone tearing it up on his guitar (when appropriate, of course).
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Devoid of an ear-catching single such as “Staring at the Sun” or “Wolf Like Me”, it’s a different endeavor noting the standout tracks on this album; instead it reads straight through like a book, beginning to end, with protagonists, plot twists, dizzying highs and bottle-breaking lows. “Golden Age”, the presumed single, has a bright, ghetto-blaster midsection with shades of Prince and classical violin. Adebimpe sounds a bit like E-40 fronting Antibalas on the bump ‘n grind of “Red Dress”. “Halfway Home”, which opens the album, will be instantly recognizable to anyone who’s heard the band before now. And “Crying” uses a feathery funk guitar and synthetic R&B keys as its leaping point into heartbreak of a different kind. I could keep going, but then I’ve taken all the fun out of it.
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They played Seattle recently. I missed it and am therefore disappointed. Please, anyone, share your experience and I will be vindicated.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Morales said:
I am a huge TVOTR fan. I have always embraced the lo fi sharp beats and semi noted harmonies. They have always reminded me of MY BLOODY VALENTINE with their wailing reverbed guitar washing the backdrop of the soundscape.
This new record, although good, has replaced that lo fi sentiment with pristine production. It translates… but higher end production seems to lessen the impact of Tunde Adebimpe’s and Kyp Malone’s dueling signature vocal tones.
Dear Science has left me a bit indifferent.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:26 am
LB said:
Hmm, I think Dear Science is probably some of their best work. I might need to go back and revisit with RTCM and DYBB, but I really, really enjoy the new songs. I also don’t think they’ve ventured too far from RTCM, and that was WIDELY lauded.
But I will say that,
likecontrary to a lot of audiophiles, I don’t always agree that the lo-fi outputs of bands are better or more authentic than their more produced efforts. It depends quite a bit on subjectivity, and the band itself, but I haven’t been put off by TVOTR’s production. Sitek seems to put a lot of effort into crafting the band’s sound and aesthetic, and it shows.October 3rd, 2008 at 11:08 am
Morales said:
Yes, I see your point. I grew up in Chicago and Touch and Go records was a staple of my youth. So many bands like Big Black, Butthole Surfers, Jesus Lizard and Scratch Acid all appealed to my lo fi admiration. I thinks a ‘chicago thing’.
I imagine it will grow on me. But, I think I am gonna go listen to Cupcakes instead. (totally not a lofi band, but still the best band on the planet)
And if you do not know cupcakes…
You need to now Cupcakes.
Look up on our myspace in the top friends
http://www.myspace.com/thesafepassageclause
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:44 am
LB said:
Will do. I bet they are YUMMY.
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Morales said:
Oh, you never heard of them! They are sort of like Chicagos’ most famous failure.
They are a pop band on the same grounds as blur but with the vocals of queen of styx.
They made a record for dreamworks about seven years ago…
They went to england to record with Steven Street (Blur)
Dreamworks dumped their A&R guy.
They got lost in the shuffle, the album was quickly released and the band was dropped.
The band though consists of some intense studio rats including Matt Walker of Filter, Morrissey, Smashing Pumpkins.
Matt Saren… guitarist for everyone including Goo Goo dolls
Matt Solomon… the breath behind so many chicago indie bands
and Preston Graves… Vocalist with one of the best ranges I have ever heard.
If you go to their myspace page, click on Prestons name… it will take you to his personal page where you can download the record for free.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Kevin leDoux said:
“Devoid of an ear-catching single such as “Staring at the Sun” or “Wolf Like Me”…
LB, I couldn’t agree with you more.
There are a lot of things this album is devoid of – including character. And I don’t think you missed anything when you missed their live show. I just saw them on SNL and even THEY seemed bored with their new stuff.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:32 am
LB said:
I suppose we’ll just have to agree to disagree. Viva TVOTR.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Kevin leDoux said:
Damn, and I thought we were gunna get some blog drama.
Viva indeed.