| YEAH YEAH YEAHS - It's Blitz! |
| Written by Luke Oram | ||
| Thursday, 30 April 2009 20:15 | ||
Since their impressive 2003 debut ‘Fever To Tell’, the New York trio have left a wake of disco destruction littered with heartbroken indie boys. Whether it be Nick Zinner’s impressive gravity-defying quiff or frontwoman Karen O’s bombastic antics, the YYY's have been rewriting the dictionary of proto-punk for nigh on six years now. Album number three, ‘It’s Blitz!’ finds Karen O & co. reinventing themselves further, almost completely dispensing with Zinner’s White-Stripes-on-speed guitar presence in favour of synths and dancehall rhythms. While most bands who attempt reinvention end up with a frankenband and no fans, ‘It’s Blitz’ is pure pop genius. Enlisting TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek to ride the producer’s chair helped the band create their new sound; a warm electro fuzz tribute to late night clubs and early morning come-downs. Karen O still howls with the best of them, her trademark sweet-and-sour croon swings from sexy suave to a glorious wail in ‘Zero’. ‘Skeletons’ is a standout track; sounding like Sitek’s successful attempt at another ‘Maps’. ‘Runaway’ is a bittersweet send-off that starts out with Karen O’s yearning for lost love and descending into a delicious mess of Zinner’s fuzzed out guitars. In a move that would slay lesser bands, Sitek even convinced the YYY's to put his signature brass on the sweet ‘Hysteric’. It would be cliché to say that ‘It’s Blitz’ documents a band maturing, because the YEAK YEAH YEAHS are still as playful as ever – they have, however, managed to stay one step ahead of the indie sound that so many in the scene are intent on mimicking and that makes them one of the greats. YEAH YEAH YEAHS 'It's Blitz!' is in-stores now. Click HERE to sign up for New Zealand exclusive updates on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. |
