More varied than you might think
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs return with a record that's already proving to be an excellent progression from 'Fever To Tell' and has the potential to be considered as one that successfully continued to build their status as one of alternative music's most consistent creative forces.
If you're a regular reader you may remember a news story we ran a few months back where the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were appealing for people to enter flag designs to feature as part of the artwork for this record. The winning entry takes up most of the front, and has the letter Y crossing over itself three times. In the gaps are patches of red, purple and yellow, a simple and very effective cover. Inside the sleeve are pictures of some of the other entries.
First single 'Gold Lion' opens the album, and seems to combine what we're used to with this band with a suggestion of what we might expect in the future. It retains some of the rawness of previous Yeah Yeah Yeahs' tracks, but there is a more mainstream melodic and mature sound to it, drifting away from the 'Art Punk' tag which they were given after they emerged in 2002.
From the start you'd be forgiven for thinking they've gone all soft on us, a simple drum intro gives way to an acoustic guitar sounding rift as an undercurrent to vocals from Karen O, which are melodic and almost haunting. Just as you're settling down for an easy ride, this track jumps on you with a direct feistiness which is characteristic of this band. 'Gold Lion' is an excellent opening track.
'Way Out' continues in the well packaged for radio mold, the musical body has the catchiness of the Strokes or Red Hot Chili peppers, but there is the on an edge passion in the vocals of PJ Harvey or early Blondie. The Blondie sound is also evident in both the brilliant 'Dudley' and 'Cheated hearts'.
If you don't fancy the sound of this so far, fear not as it isn't long before we get the gritty, heavier side to Yeah Yeah Yeahs, for that is the exact description of 'Fancy'.
Although sticking to the raw sound, 'Honeybear' in places has a disco feel to it, most notably the intro, something which really grabs the attention. This is one that stands out along with 'Way Out' and the dreamy and melodic indy sounding 'Dudley' as being great single material.
'Show Your Bones' is an interesting record. It has a number of highpoints however it doesn't stay at it's often high peak throughout. That said there is enough strong material on here to make forth-coming festival appearances certainly worth checking out.