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Music Review: TV on the Radio's 'Dear Science'
09/23/2008 10:00 AM, AP
TV on the Radio, "Dear Science" (DGC/Interscope) TV on the Radio's "Dear Science" is quite simply a masterpiece. Two years after their acclaimed major-label debut, "Return from Cookie Mountain," the New York quintet's new album raises the bar even more with original, artsy, layered and funky music. This is music for the heart, brain and soul — 11 tunes erupting with fuzz, organ, horns, falsetto and lyrics ripe with strange, beautiful, poetic imagery. From the opening chant of "ba, ba, ba, ba, ba" and frenetic drumbeats on the album's first track "Halfway Home" to the Prince-worthy sexual shouts and flute melodies on last track "Lover's Day," "Dear Science" proves TV on the Radio's versatility and staying power. "Wild spirit winds from out your chest/ Collides with world and wilderness/ It needs a gentle hand to call it home/ Now surfs the sun and scales the moon," sings frontman Tunde Adebimpe on "Halfway Home," a song he has said pays homage to two people close to him who passed away earlier this year. Adebimpe, whose star will only rise with a key role in Jonathan Demme's upcoming film "Rachel Getting Married," creates snapshots of love and war, alienation and inspiration alongside big-bearded vocalist and guitarist Kyp Malone. The pair splits the album's lyrical duties, with band co-founder and talented producer Dave Sitek pitching in. Malone's funky instincts and sharp words brilliantly balance out Adebimpe's heady, dark ones. "Crying" has a groovy soulful thrust, as Malone uses his high falsetto to ooze political critiques behind a catchy guitar riff. "Gold/ Is another word for culture/ Leads to fattening/ Of the vultures/ Till this bird can barely fly," he sings. "Dancing Choose" is a glorious hodgepodge of schizophrenic rap, saxophone bursts and fevered rants on the desperate commercialism of modern life. On the other end of the spectrum, "Family Tree" is a slow, lovely love song showcasing violins and cello, and anti-global warming anthem "Shout Me Out" flows upward on a rock 'n' roll volley of beats and buzzing guitar. Decades ago, British post-punk group Gang of Four set the tone for biting political commentary made dance-worthy. TV on the Radio lays the same groundwork today, filling a deep void for listeners desperate to connect to music and words worthy of their minds and bodies. CHECK OUT THIS TRACK: Move over Prince. Malone not only extolls the virtues of sweaty skin contact on "Lover's Day," he praises it as an earthshaking experience, literally: "We'll smash the walls/ Break the bed/ And crash the floors!/ Don't stop!/ Laugh and scream!/ And have the neighbors calls the cops!" Sex never sounded this great.
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