Yeah! YYYs' new album is sooo good
I'm very pleased. Two of my favorite bands -- The Decemberists and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- just released new albums. Both bands have rocked my socks off with their new material. Seriously, the cotton fibers exploded off my feet and combusted into fiery flames upon hearing YYY's "It's Blitz," and Decemberists' "Hazards of Love." I don't exaggerate.
Let's begin with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I can always rely on Karen O's yelps, shrieks and generally incoherent lyrics to get me out of a rut. But her maniacal noise-making is a rarity on "It's Blitz." But it's OK!
Replacing the yelps and shrieks are soft melodies and danceable beats. I was nervous when I first listened to the CD. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have lost their edge, I thought. But the songs grew on me fast, particularly "Runaway," a haunting song with brooding guitars and a distant-sounding piano.
The last two tracks are growing on me slowly, but they're sugar-filled and sweet, which is a taste I can only take for so long. (In my songs, not my food, that is ...)
Onto the Decemberists. "The Hazards of Love" has been described as an ambitious rock opera. I'll never tire of Colin Meloy's lyrics -- which sound more like poetry than rock band lyrics.
I'll admit that some tracks are forgettable, but others have stuck to my brain like a wet noodle. A delicious wet noodle (sorry, I'm hungry). "The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid" is one such song. Actually, the first five songs or so have been on a loop in my head for days.
"Crane Wife" is still my fave, but "Hazards" could sneak in as my No. 1 Decemberists album.
If you like either band, I suggest getting these albums. But hold onto your socks!
Leave a comment