AWmusic

My relationship with Yeah Yeah Yeahs has come a long way since “Maps” and “one of the only band names that starts with a Y” which was utterly important during that game where you have to think of a band name that started with the last letter of the band name the person before you posted. You guys remember that shit, right? I’m not the only loser?

Actually, besides “Maps”, Fever to Tell wasn’t an amazing album. It was gutsy and aggressive but largely unpolished and reeked of amateurism. Show Your Bones is the pièce de résistance in their discography. Karen O said that it was the result of sticking a finger in a light socket and in that case, It’s Blitz! is the result of sticking two fingers in a light socket. I think the new album sounds much more like Show Your Bones than their debut which is a fantastic thing in my opinion.

The album starts off with two of its strongest tracks “Zero” and “Heads Will Roll”. It is a little ironic that “Zero” condemns fitting in while It’s Blitz is arguably one of their most mainstream albums with this song a perfect metonymic opening. I’m not too impressed with “Heads Will Roll” but it has such a great danceable beat I’m willing to overlook poetic imperfections. “Dull Life” is awesome, I love the chorus.

I wasn’t too enamoured with the other tracks on the album until I heard the acoustic versions available on the deluxe edition. Even “Hysteric”, which I like as is (a bit of a throwback to Feverl to Tell in a good way) is absolutely tearjerking as an acoustic song. The deluxe edition also contains two bonus tracks, “Faces” and “Clap Song”. I’m not sure how well they fit in with the album so it’s a good thing they’re extras.

It’s Blitz! definitely has a healthy dose of synth/pop which some interpret as a betrayal on Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ part. I don’t think that’s true. It’s foolish to expect bands – especially one who seems so repetition-averse – to reproduce the same type of music over and over again. Are they jumping on the bandwagon? Again, I don’t think so. Maybe, maybe not. More importantly, I don’t think it matters. This album is chock full of solid tracks and it still sounds like Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Is it selling out? No, definitely not. Gets a 4/5 from me – It’s Blitz! is a totally decent album that does not disappoint but it’s not particularly innovative.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Dull Life
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Hysteric (acoustic)