A (Better) Successor

Prior to listening to today’s blog selection, I’m checking out TV on the Radio’s Nine Types of Light record, and so far it is impressive.  If “Second Song” is an indication of the direction of the record, this one will be more like Dear Science than Return to Cookie Mountain.  What I am learning about TV on the Radio records is that if I play them a couple of times through, I really appreciate them more.  This record was released prior to the death of their long-time bassist Gerard Smith, who died of lung cancer.

The listener cannot directly classify TV on the Radio in a specific genre.  Their music is funk.  Their music is rock.  Their music is experimental.  Their music is a lot of stuff, which makes them an interesting band.  Dear Science exemplifies this diversity of sound they employ.  It is the subject of this entry.

#49 – TV on the Radio, Dear Science (Metascore = 88)

“Halfway Home” opens this turn in the sonic direction of TV on the Radio.  Unlike on Return to Cookie Mountain, which felt more indie rock and experimental than anything else.  Dear Science evolves into something more soulful and funkier than its predecessor.  Perhaps “Halfway Home” is an homage to that old sound, since stylistically it is very experimental sounding with music coming from all corners, though the instruments are limited to drums, synths, bass, and fuzz guitar.  “Halfway Home” could be interpreted as the description of a person whose mental state has faded to insanity, or it could be interpreted as a relationship that has devolved into a state of mental collapse.  This is up to you.

“Crying” is decidedly different from “Halfway Home”.  “Crying” is a soulful romp that sounds like it would be right at home in any R&B artist’s catalog.  “Stork & Owl” is a poetic ode to the stars and a reference to the ebb of life.  “Stork & Owl” features a few stringed instruments backed by beats; it sort of reminded me of a Cure song.  “Golden Age” is the best song on the set to me (and to critics all around).  David Sitek and Kyp Malone wrote this dance song that reads like a paean to love and music.

“Family Tree” is a beautiful song by Tunde Adebimpe about the fate of a couple’s hardships in dealing with their families, specifically hers.  I was riveted by this song.  “Red Dress” is very different from “Family Tree”; this is a funky, political, anti-war song with an INXS drive to it.  I misspoke about the best song on the record.  “Love Dog” is my favorite.  I think I like it for sincerity within it and Adebimpe’s vocals in this.  This is a relatively quiet song with some beautiful backup to it.

My conundrum is whether I like this record better than Return to Cookie Mountain, which I didn’t like at first but have grown to like quite a bit.  I find this record to be more accessible and interesting.  The theme seems to evaluate love through its good times and struggles.  Musically I find this record more entertaining, too.  If you haven’t heard TV on the Radio, try this record first.