At least this time the media were ready for it. Last year's TV on the Radio album was a total surprise to most of the critics who would love the album. Instead the EP began to make TV on the Radio's follow up, their first full-length album, the most anticipated album not recorded by a band named Wilco. was an early candidate for 2004's album of the year.
It has been a long time since a band presented Depeche Mode-influenced music with such dignity as TV on the Radio. Nocturnal, melodic post-punk built with expert tension-this is the music bands like God Lives Underwater have tried and failed to record for fifteen years. But TV on the Radio's post-punk is, at its very core, gospel and doo-wop music built to Talking Heads standards. Halfway through Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes, the band drops all accompaniment and does a song a capella. And their sound doesn't change at all-\Ambulance"" carries the same ethic as the rest of the album. It is truly post-gospel music, perhaps the first ever dark-wop band.
The songs on are all beautifully layered. TV on the Radio builds levels of synthesizer and guitar over drum machines and haunting bass. But the standout instrument in every song is Tunde Adebimpe's voice, always intertwined with the other band members, a distinct mix of David Byrne and Anthony Kietis. Kip Malone makes an increased presence on Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes, this time adding vocals as well as guitar. Malone's voice completes the doo-wop sound, making Alebimpe's solo voice into a Southern Baptist choir. In tracks like ""King Eternal,"" the singing alternates so quickly between harmonizing with instruments and providing a rhythm that the lyrics themselves become indiscernible. TV on the Radio has all of the components of being the next big thing.
When TV on the Radio succeeds, they create truly amazing songs. The opening track, ""The Wrong Way"" pits a frenzy of saxophones against a deep, distorted, garage-rock bass. The result is an engrossing song, music that takes the ethics of both New Order and Morphine. ""Poppy"" breaks down into an a capella track, and becomes haunting. What we are hearing from TV on the Radio are the first steps of a band which could easily spawn a genre.
It's all here, the songwriting, the unique but beautiful style. TV on the Radio can easily grow to be one of the defining bands of our time. At their best, TV on the Radio produces brilliant, oftentimes soul-clenching music. The EP proved that much. But isn't quite as consistent, occasionally dragging its way through immature songs. The only holdover from the EP is ""Staring at the Sun,"" both Young Liar's catchiest song and ultimately, its least fulfilling. ""Don't love you's"" intricate, Middle Eastern background overstays its welcome long before the end of the song. Whereas Desperate Youth shows a band with infinite potential, showed a band on its way to reaching that potential.
But a step backward from still makes for a genius album, one which will define the sound of many bands who listen to it. Few bands are so successful with a sound in such uncharted territory as TV on the Radio is. They aren't just five years ahead of our time, but the second- or third-best album produced in five years. Album of the year this year? Probably not. But this is still a great album, and a staggeringly impressive debut.
Joe is going to be around over spring break. So, if you're going to be in Madison, e-mail him at jhuchill@wic.edu. If not, pour a bottle on the Cancun sand for your missing hommie.
