These days, it seems virtually impossible to release an album when you actually want to; someone always seems to come along and release it for you. Thus, the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs record, scheduled to go on sale 13th of April; leaked all over the web 23rd of Feb, became old news before it was even new news.
Thinking back, we can remember exactly when and where it was that we first heard Karen O and co., a band that instinctively knew who they were and what they were about from the very outset. The raucous simplicity of their debut gave way to the more considered sound of Show Your Bones with seemingly little effort, unlike fellow New Yorkers The Strokes, who seemed to remain with their feet firmly in the starting blocks.
But where for the art-rocking NYC threesome to go next? And how to tackle the so-called ‘difficult third album’ syndrome? Happily, we can report that the direction they’ve taken is up, up, up and far from resting on their laurels, Yeah Yeah Yeahs have returned with what is potentially one of the most varied and interesting records of their career.
From the throbbing intro of lead single and album opener ‘Zero’ to the epic, organ swells of closing ballad, ‘Little Shadow’, the new material is both familiar and fresh and, no doubt like the majority of releases we’ll hear this year, it’s all been dipped in the 80s electro pot. It wasn’t like Karen O was going to be left in the shadows of the female-fronted, synthesizer–enabled coup d’état on the charts, was it?
Indeed, when second track ‘Heads Will Roll’ kicks in, its with full-on dance mode. "Off-off-off with your head, dance-dance-dance till you’re dead," screeches Karen, before going unusually soft and breathy for the chorus. With layered strings and a hefty, four-four kick, it’s one hell of a track and sounds almost as if they’ve been remixed by Armand Van Helden. No, really!
Next track ‘Soft Shock’ is, as the title suggests, softer and yet similarly synth-driven and just as catchy. The smouldering loops of ‘Skeletons’ let things simmer for a time, building slowly to a crescendo before the record wakes suddenly from its dreamy electric musings for guitar-driven fifth track ‘Dull Life’. This offbeat, stand out moment recalls the raw hookiness of their youth while simultaneously showcasing their newfound depth.
The tight groove of ‘Dragon Queen’ brings to mind the synth-pop of MGMT, Karen’s almost indistinguishable chanting merging and remerging from the synth, while the far from hysteric, ‘Hysteric’ recalls the beauty of ‘Maps’ with a little more energy and a sweeping wave-like chorus. "You suddenly complete me," she gushes, as the track reaches it’s climax.
Confident, emotive and beautifully realized, It’s Blitz! sounds like a real coming of age record, doing for Yeah Yeah Yeahs what Because Of The Times did For Kings Of Leon. Definitely destined to be a record of the year - we can’t wait to listen to it again and again! - Isaac Howlett
MySpace | Website