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Wed-Mar-2009
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs 3rd Album Leaks



Yeah Yeah Yeahs don’t exactly move at a fast clip, do they? After becoming the toast of the NYC underground in 2001 with their first EP, particularly the song “Art Star,” they wait two years to issue a debut album. Thankfully, 2003’s Fever To Tell was an instant classic. Comprised of equal parts raunchy punk noise, art-school experimentalism and pure pop, it managed to go platinum and, unlike their peers The Strokes or Interpol, produce a US radio hit with “Maps.” How did they capitalise on this momentum?

Three years later, the band dropped Show Your Bones, which with hindsight, we can safely call a textbook case of sophomore slump. “Gold Lion” rightfully became a pop hit, but much of the rest of the album fell flat. The group seemed restrained, either unable or unwilling to tap into the in-the-red quality of “Art Star,” “Date With The Night” and “Pin.”

Now, at the onset of 2009, Y3 return into a vastly different pop landscape than that of Fever To Tell. Karen O is no longer the first lady of indie-rock. Her throne has been taken by BFFs M.I.A. and Santogold, two ladies who combine rock’s aggression with world rhythms, electronic beats, the depth of dub, a unique fashion sense and a confrontational outlook. The most recent albums by both ladies, Kala and Santogold, have produced hit singles (“Paper Planes” and “L.E.S. Artistes,” respectively) while retaining indie cred and massive critical acclaim. In other words, both ladies are in Karen O’s position circa 2004. So this album finds Ms Orzolek and Messrs Zinner and Chase playing catch-up, so to speak.

The first single “Zero,” “Heads Will Roll,” and “Dull Life,” which have been bopping around the internet for the last month or so, are all included. The former two are decent electro-pop. Not bad, but nothing to write home about either, though I’m judging this through the lens of Lily Allen’s “The Fear,” which was so thumping good that it’ll likely colour my perception of all electro-pop released this year. But I digress. “Dull Life” is decent. It’s a bit darker-sounding, with a Western chorus and a flash of classic Y3 at the end. A bit strange, but it works.

Here’s a rundown of the previously-unleaked tracks:

“Soft Shock” is a softer, gentler piece than the two that precede it. First really good song on the record, and thus a good lead-in to the next one.

“Skeletons” is the first truly great song on the album. I’m calling it now: it will be a classic Y3 ballad in the tradition of “Maps” and “Turn Into.” Ethereal keyboards and flutes + a martial beat that somehow reminds me of the American Revolution = pure aural heaven.

“Shame and Fortune” sounds like the band trying to do the new sound with attitude. Not bad, not great. At this point, I’m rather alarmed, because I’ve never felt this degree of ambivalence about a Y3 record.

“Runaway” is startling. It’s a sparse piano ballad. It’s about as far from “Tick” as a song can get, especially once the ethereal cello/guitar/keyboard bit comes in (the production on this record is so intricate that it’s difficult to tell). Some drums come in unnecessarily about halfway through and muck it up. I can live with it though.

“Dragon Queen” is kind of like whatever. I mean, I’d dance to it, sure, but actually listen to it? Uh, no.

“Hysteric” is a soaring power ballad. Up there with anything Blondie ever did, who are, by the way, another obvious reference point - especially for a female-fronted punk act expanding into pop. I was too thick to mention it earlier. I want this to be a radio hit, but it won’t happen (at least not in the States).

“Little Shadow” is, again, nothing special. Just sort of… there, innit? This is the band that ended their first two albums with “Modern Romance” and “Turn Into,” so I was rather expecting to go out on a high note. Maybe they should have saved “Skeletons” for last?

Ultimately, this album is on a par with Show Your Bones. The good songs are much better than anything on that record, but the bad ones are among the worst they’ve ever done. However, it’s still not as good as Fever To Tell. I don’t see myself listening to this regularly six years from now, like I do Fever To Tell. I admire them for trying to expand their range and sound, but Y3 will likely never record an album as visceral (or as good) as their first. Of course, in 2015, I might eat these words.

SCORE: 5/10 - needless to say this ain’t gonna hold a candle to Kala (10/10) and Santogold (9/10).

The record isn’t due out until March 9 in the U.K. and March 10 in the U.S. (digitally) and March 31 in the U.S. and April 6 everywhere else (physically) but you can find it online. Alternatively, just shoot me an email at iankemp90@gmail.com if you’d like me to send you a link.
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