Category Archives: TV on the Radio

girl/boy

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I know I stood you up last weekend. Again. I can picture your sad little face, wondering what you ever did so wrong that I would hurt you this way. Baby, it’s not you, it’s me. I’m not the blogger you thought I was. But I can change, baby, I can change. Or at least I can try to cover a little more ground this week to make up for it.

The last few weeks I’ve been paying attention to co-ed duos for some reason. It’s not something I would particularly seek out but a couple of respectable albums dropped recently, so let’s call it a pleasant coincidence.

First up, The Submarines, a duo from Los Angeles. They’ve apparently been releasing albums since 2006 but their newest, Love Notes/Letter Bombs is the first chance I’ve had to hear them. I’m glad I did. This is a pop album but it’s full of fuzzy bass and guitar, as well as lots of little ambient flourishes that make you feel like you’re in space or (who knew?) a submarine. Here’s the opening track, which I like.

Click to play The Submarines – Shoelaces

My only complaint is that the vocals don’t seem to need as much spacey reverb as they’re treated with. That’s just my opinion and it doesn’t distract from a solid album in the end.

The Kills just released a new album as well. It’s called Blood Pressures. Due to an unpleasant incident involving touring with a band, lack of sleep, high tensions, and a long late night drive with one song on repeat, I went into this album with a pretty solid dislike for this band. I’m happy to say I’ve changed my tune a bit. This is a nice little garage-rock-infused record with lots of attitude. Here’s the track “Damned If She Do,” a tune that recalls the swagger of T. Rex in my mind.

Click to play The Kills – Damned If She Do

And of course everyone’s darlings TV On The Radio have a new album coming out this week. I’ve only had time to preview a few songs and, while there are some departures from what we’ve heard before, this is still the unique, crazy cool band we all know and love. You’ve probably heard the first single “Will Do” so here’s another teaser track.

Click to play TV On The Radio – New Cannonball Blues

These guys are always worth the listen, so be sure to pick up the album.

And all your dumb rhymin’ words

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This. Is. An excellent. Record.

“People might be surprised that anyone is still working in a long format recorded medium considering the economic climate, current trends in dissemination and consumption, i.e. the internet and mp3 players…There is so much work being produced in this moment, in this, the age of readily available prosumer recording equipment and an internet hungry for content, not to mention the mountains of old songs that exist for most listeners who, in a lifetime, will only skim the surface of that magnificent library. People might be surprised that, with all that weighing against it, buying and listening to this album will be more than just pleasurable, more than just horizon expanding. “

Kyp Malone’s new music venture is called Rain Machine. He has been writing and recording material for himself, even before getting together with the much-loved and respected group TV On the Radio. Malone joined TVotR in time to record their second record, 2003’s EP Young Liars. While performing solo, Malone went by a few different names and eventually settled on Rain Machine. His first solo album, which is self-titled, comes out September 22 on Anti-Records.

The first two releases, “Give Blood” and “Smiling Black Faces”, are excellent tracks but sandwiched between them on the record is my favorite, “New Last Name.” It’s a slow burn. Check it out:


Rain Machine -New Last Name

Oh no! Was it the line “All your dumb rhymin’ words” that summoned Kanye or was it Malone’s beard? Kanye has to interrupt everyone’s big moment! OK what is it Kanye?

I’m really happy for you Kyp, and Imaletyoufinish, but Mookie has the best beard of all time! Of all time!

Well. Mookie is working on one sweet-ass beard. But Mookie’s beard hasn’t been stroked by Stephen Colbert yet. So until that day, I think Kyp Malone might have the best one. Here’s a live shot of the very talented musician that we took when we caught TV on the Radio at OutsideLands:

Rain Machine showcases some of Malone’s best lyrics and song construction yet. But I will give no opinion and insight on the words and themes he explores on this record. You simply have to experience it yourself. You can even pre-order the vinyl below. I can’t wait to drop a needle on the actual record. That will make for quite a spritually revealing evening.

Choose your format: MP3, CD, or Vinyl…

Why not "In Puddles"?

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Last week, TV on the Radio released their fourth album and titled it “Dear Science.” Am I being just too much of a nerd if I ask why they didn’t pick back up on Radiohead references? OK, I digress. A bit of history for you first.

Tunde Adebimpe and David Andrew Sitek are some of the biggest musical geniuses of the decade, and it’s possible you’ve never heard of them. If you collect remixes, you may have heard one of Sitek’s: Nine Inch Nails’ Survivalism is a favorite.

Adebimpe and Sitek got together as TV on the Radio and self-released their first album in 2001, titled “OK, Calculator” (are you pickin’ up what I’m layin’ down here yet?) Now, when I say self-released, I mean they went into record stores and sneaked their album onto the shelves! LOVE THAT INDIE SPIRIT! (in all caps!)

Five years later and a few extra bandmates later, their second album “Return to Cookie Mountain” was given the label “Album of the Year” by SPIN Magazine. This album featured guest appearances from such names as David Bowie and Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Influences from Sitek’s friendship with Bowie and the band’s loose, improvisational style are still true on the current album.

Sitek is now working with what he calls “pretty much [his] favorite band in the world”, Massive Attack, on their upcoming album. Well he’s hooked me in, now. Back to the collaboration, though, these guys have so many amazing and creative ideas, and let’s hope they achieve all they set out to do, such as…

“cut the record into pieces, and then send maybe 15-30 seconds of music to a different filmmaker, like all over the world, and then have them send back it back in, without seeing what the other person was making, and then make… an hour long movie… like The Wall for people with attention deficit disorder”

The tracks on “Dear Science” are so smart. They are multi-layered, but not too heavily. There are some deep themes and smart lyrics. It’s beautiful how open to interpretation TVOTR allows their music to be, and the songs are so rich with sound that you feel like you’ve been given a gift with each listen.

There is so much to highlight from the career of TV on the Radio. But because I’ve already done them a horrific justice, I will just throw you the mp3 without further ado. I’m going to share with you cut 3 from “Dear Science”, and it’s one of the faster tracks. Enjoy “Dancing Choose”…

[Download Dancing Choose]