From “Dull Lives to “Shame and Fortune,” the Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover much ground on their newest album It’s Blitz!. It’s Blitz! is the third of the New York natives’ albums, and it has a refreshing, newfangled sound. What was once a band bursting with punky guitar riffs and get-up-and-dance drum solos has shifted gears to a more subtle sound. Guitarist Nick Zinner’s soothing synths accompanied by drummer Brian Chase’s electronic drumbeats set the perfect foundation for Karen O’s elated, delicate melodies. The quirky leading lady bounces about as she serenades listeners of the YYYs; the grandiose yet simple sounds of the current compilation prove that an artist need not clutter a song with thoughts to get a point across.
The album begins with an energetic introduction titled “Zero.” Sonorous and resonant, the song will inevitably leave the auditor yearning for more. All will find it irresolvable to neglect the urge to dance to the electronic beats of “Heads Will Roll.” The mellifluous and immensely playful uncomplicatedness of “Soft Shock” allows one to concentrate on the simplicity of the song. While the repetitive lyrics may bore some, others will find it refreshing. Lacking byzantine similes, arduous tongue twisters, and clunky choruses, “Soft Shock” is deemed a straightforward beauty.
Likewise, Karen O sweetly croons throughout the gentle sounds of “Skeletons.” The leading lady’s customarily elated voice tells a sad yet soothing story. As the song progresses, a recurrent theme is made apparent as she begs, “Love, don’t cry, skeleton me.”
Being anything but what the title imposes, “Dull Life” begins as a mellow downer but abruptly shifts to an electric explosion. However, if you’re looking for a more instrumental song lacking lyrical lullabies, “Shame and Fortune” is a pick for you. Although the creativity the other tunes so heavily thrive on is absent in this song, it still provides a rocking track for the eclectic album.
Soft piano sets the beautifully despondent mood of “Runaway.” The deep lyrics tell an anecdote of looking back on a past lover. O softly proclaims, “I was feeling sad, Can’t help looking back.” Feeling heartbroken? “Runaway” will offer peace of mind as you drift away in the harmonious tones of sorrow and despair. Having a rather funky sound, “Dragon Queen” may be viewed as a groovy, low key ditty. Similarly, “Hysteric” is a sweet ballad in which a past lover is revisited.
Ultimately, the chaotic manner, wild melodies, and loose ends of It’s Blitz! are all tied together with the closing track, “Little Shadow.” The gang takes a break from the zany beats and eccentric synths to present listeners with a grave side. O makes certain that her voice doesn’t dare overpower the serene sounds of an acoustic guitar and discreet hum of an organ – a very tasteful departing for such an album.
In short, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have compiled the proper elements to construct an outrageously thrilling album that is undoubtedly worth purchasing.
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