TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light (2011)

NINE TYPES OF LIGHT can be seen as a refinement of the wonderful and more experimental DEAR SCIENCE similar to the way that the dark, sophisticated RETURN TO COOKIE MOUNTAIN was a refinement of their promising if somewhat monotonous debut, DESPERATE YOUTH AND BLOODTHIRSTY BABES. This time out, TV On The Radio focus more on straight-forward pop songs, especially love songs. The trademark TVOTR sound is still in effect, although the drones, poly-rhythms and atmospheric washes are less dense. The songs are beautifully constructed, full of sophisticated music and brilliant counter-melodies yet, as usual, they never sound cluttered.

Most of the album is kinda laid-back and funky although it does blast off into rock world on occasion and there's an ambient song as well. DEAR SCIENCE is certainly loaded with amazing poly-rhythms, and even though they're less evident on NINE TYPES OF LIGHT, the drumming is still highly creative, just in a less obvious way. There's also plenty of groovy, quasi-funk guitar to be heard and the vocals are so smooth and truly fantastic. Despite a few slightly awkward moments, the overall sound here is more natural and organic than on DEAR SCIENCE, particularly the vocals. More subtle too. And perhaps most importantly, the songwriting and sense of melody is as great as it ever was. Highly recommended.

Breakdown!

"Second Song" - Vocalist Tunde Adebimpe begins the album by speak-singing, gradually evolving into a full singing voice. It's a disarming, off-beat way to start things, a sensibility familiar to fans that's also evidenced by the title of this the first track. The song soon picks up with a funky guitar and then launches into a full band attack as Tunde reaches that Bee-Gees level octave. It's a joyous tune, easy going yet upbeat, featuring some great brass accompaniment, another TVOTR staple. *****

"Keep Your Heart" - is a wonderful song. At first I had a hard time getting used to this one funk guitar part that sounds out of sync with the beat, almost as if it's breaking down. Then I came to realize it was probably meant to compliment the line, "If the world falls apart/ I'm gonna keep your heart." Love the way that one line combines the two themes of love and doomsday aftermath. Very intimate and romantic, very groovy and heartfelt. Love the cascading guitar at the middle 8 and the shimmering synths. Very uplifting! ****3/4

"You" - guided by a subdued hip-hop beat and a guitar with a great melodic structure. Features multiple layers of humming synths, some soaring, some kinda quirky and squeaky. A helluva love song, possibly the best track on the album. *****+

"No Future Shock" - a track in the true post-apocalyptic party spirit, and what a party it is! Another showcase of the band's fabulous flair for great melodies. *****

"Killer Crane" - A stately, atmospheric track with acoustic guitar and even some banjo that nevertheless maintains the modern sound found on the whole album. Amazing background vocals....absolutely beautiful song! *****

"Will Do" - Chiming synth bells announce this sweet love groove. So lush with a deep, almost intense undercurrent of emotion. A worthy first single and another strong contender for best album track. *****+

"New Cannonball Blues" - A more rocking song, it still maintains a funky sound along with some New Wave computer synths. More excellent brass touches appear towards the end. *****

"Repetition" - As one might guess from the title, "Repetition" is less mind-blowingly melodic than these other songs. A propulsive beat pushes it along until it breaks into open space and breathes, only to take off again with stuttering guitars and bobbing synth patterns. ****

"Forgotten" - begins in a fairly low-key manner with echoing synthetic percussion and subtle sonic touches. Sleigh bells, strings and "nuclear winter" soon kick in along with high-pitched vocals that glide overhead. The whole thing slowly builds into a horn and whistle-laden full bloom. It's another great TVOTR song that only they can deliver, but it sounds to me like they could've taken it further. ***3/4

"Caffeinated Consciousness" - is a great song, the most in-your-face rocker on the album. Alternates between a powerful, staggered rhythm and dreamy passages. The familiar sound on this one was teasing my brain for the longest time like an itch I couldn't scratch, until another reviewer here finally pointed out its similarity to "U-Mass" by The Pixies (- props to s.t.!). It's not a note-for-note rip off, but the structure and rhythm of "U-Mass" is clearly the inspiration. Hey, everybody has influences, even great artists so for me this isn't really a problem. Consider it a tribute. The song remains a punchy, upbeat climax to a killer party. ****1/2

Gerard Smith - rest in peace

I once glibly commented to a friend of mine that, while I love many of TV on the Radio's songs, I felt like they were one of the greatest bands to never make a great record. From their first album on TV on the Radio showed immense promise as a band. They crafted a unique sound for themselves that combined punk, new wave, funk and electronica into unexpected arrangements (if you can remember back to their debut, then you also know they briefly dabbled in acappella, and it was actually good). And yet despite punctured flashes of brilliance, I had never found an entire album by TV on the Radio completely satisfying. For their first three albums, the best songs were pushed to the first half of the record while the less impressive efforts weighed down the back end. Despite all of their brilliance as songwriters, it seemed as if they couldn't maintain the quality of their best efforts for the entire span of an LP. With the release of Nine Types of Light, TV on the Radio's fourth album, I can no longer make the same claim about TV on the Radio's awkward tackling of the album format.

Perhaps it is because the band has finally cracked the code of the long player, or perhaps it's because they learned to cradle the slow numbers as well as they rock out on the obvious singles, but whatever the reason, TV on the Radio have made the best album of their career. From the funk stomp of the opener, "Second Song," to the shout out loud closer, "Caffeinated Consciousness," Nine Types of Light maintains a consistently high level of quality. Some numbers may grab the listener more immediately than others, but I guarantee you that any single track off Nine Types of Light would be a highlight on nearly any other group's album.

As usual, TV on the Radio effortlessly turn in invigorating screamers whose hooks veil the fact that the lyrics could have been written by the Greek figure of death, Thanatos. "No Future Shock" conjures up images of a dance party in the middle of social and political entropy, while "Repetition" dares you not to dance to a tale of drugs, death and violence. The latter track even breaks down so that Tunde Adebimpe can provide a moment of spoken word introspection that sounds like a schizophrenic version of Vincent Price. Perhaps no other band can make humanity's death drive seem like so much fun. But the real stunner about Nine Types of Light is that the slow numbers are perhaps the best songs off the album. The real standout here is "Killer Crane," which leaves not a note out of place. Employing warm atmospherics, subtle strings, and even something that sounds like a banjo, TV on the Radio evince absolute control over every detail, confident enough to combine different instruments without overstuffing the song. "Killer Crane" speaks of regeneration and coming to terms with past scars, and it is this catharsis, as well as its placement in the album, that positions the song as the album's centerpiece.

Fans of TV on the Radio have had to cope with rumors of a band break up over the past few years. Either because of solo albums, a temporary hiatus, or merely because the band seems overflowing with talented musicians, it sometimes appears that each TV on the Radio album could be our last. I hope this isn't the case, since Nine Types of Light feels like work from a group who still has plenty to say. The final song off the album, "Caffeinated Consciousness," is also the most aggressive, as if the band is attempting to say, "We're just getting started."

In a musical landscape clouded with pointless experimentation, loads of synth, and too much negative distortion...finally a record comes out by guys who can just flat out play. These are professional musicians who craft fantastic jams...not Indie amateur dilettantes who recorded their album on a laptop in four hours. It's a record that harkens back to a time when musicians actually took the time to record good songs...remember those days? I know I barely do either!

It's just a delight to hear a record that is bright, optimistic, and...wait for it...fun to listen to! No dull piano clinking...no distorted voices...no synths! (thank god, there is a god!) no girl in the music video wearing American Apparel and looking very bored...it reminds me of Seal circa 1990-whatever. Its not "ironic" its not "retro"...its sincere music of the present tense and it is beautiful.

Indie rock is great and all (as someone who was there in 01 for the beginning) but god it just feels so good to listen to some dudes who actually know how to play their instruments for once...so, so, so, so, so, unbelievably good... You will be listening to this record for a long time. Nine types of light is a bright spot in a dark era.

Here's to a band unafraid to change. A band not threatened by the loss of those hardcore Brooklyn hipster "fans" who maintain the band's integrity has lessened with each new release - as TVotR's music evolved from a progressive, free-flowing noise rock (Desperate Youth) to a melodic, soulful jazz and dance rock. As such, Light is their softest, subtlest and most nuanced album to date. Not to worry the dance grooves and incredibly gripping and sexy vocal harmonies of Tunde and Kyp are at the core of this album. The layers of this album keep you coming back for another listen. The true fan will appreciate this album an expanding endeavor from one of the most genuine bands writing music today.

It is noteworthy to point out they have produced a full length film with the same name that further births these songs into our minds and reveals just how deep this band's artist vision really goes.

Outstanding tracks include: Will Do, Second Song, Caffeinated Consciousness, No Future Shock, Killer Crane

It has been a busy couple of years for TV on the Radio since the release of 2008's "Dear Science," but the vast majority of their work did not come as a group. Lead singer Tunde Adebimpe started up a career in acting while musicians Kyp Malone and David Sitek both released solo albums. With numerous critically acclaimed albums already behind them, there was no doubting their collective talents, but the past few years have showcased their individual abilities and offered fans a unique perspective on what each member brings to the table.

Setting up camp in Sitek's home studio in Los Angeles, the band's move from Brooklyn, NY to the west coast occasionally has an influence on the music, making "Nine Types of Light" a bit of a departure from TV on the Radio's first three records. The mixture of anger and sadness heard throughout their earlier releases has been replaced with a more cheerful collection of tracks. The lyrics are still far from uplifting, but it's clear TV on the Radio are able to accept the ups and downs life has to offer with a new calm sarcasm.

One of the crowning moments lyrically comes on "Forgotten," which discusses the band's view of Beverly Hills and the chaotic style of life people endure there. Although the line "Beverly Hills, nuclear winter, what should we wear and who's for dinner?" may seem to be a grim outlook for the California coast, they call the city "paradise" one verse later.

The lead single, "Will Do" doesn't have the same energetic backing of earlier hits such as "Wolf Like Me," but it stands with the best songs they've ever released. With an enchanting beat backing words of seduction, "Will Do" may not be your everyday TV on the Radio track, but the band seems to master any style they choose.

"Nine Types of Light" has a lot to like for fans both new and old. The overall mood is more laid back than their earlier records, but the crisp production and tight arrangements are as present as ever. Adebimpe and Malone's vocals balance each other perfectly, keeping the lyrics in focus while allowing the music an equally important role. Their earlier releases may remain favorites of longtime fans, but "Nine Types of Light" is the perfect starting point for new listeners and it's sure to increase their ever-growing fan base.

Track Suggestion: "Will Do"