TV on the Radio - Dear Science
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.19 You Save: $4.79 (34%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.99 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Dear Science
Free Music Review: two or three awesome tracks
Hit: 3 Stars
It's been a long time since I have written a review, but there was something about this album that compelled me to write one. Let's be honest, TV on the radio are very cool. It's cool to like them. Their previous album was special in so many ways. I was ofcourse very excited about this release. Pitchfork gave it a great review and Drowned in sound were singing it's praises. But yet, after being such a huge fan of their 2 albums previous, why was I having such a hard time with this one?
Out of curiosity, I checked Amazon, and I totally agreed with most of the reviews here.
After repeated listens, I have have only managed to get into three songs. And funnily enough, they are all written by the vocalist!
The other songs suffer from, dare I say it, bad production? I know, I know, he has produced tons of great albums, but this one just sounds so flat. Muffled even. And artistically it has gone off on a tangent. Where as they were quite hard to classify before (dare I say, art rock?) this album is pretty much a funk album. But even then, if kind of falls flat.
Stand out tracks are:
Halfway Home
family tree and the amazingly catchy DLZ.
Free Music Review: Disappointing
Hit: 3 Stars
After a very good debut album, followed by an even better and excellent sequel, with Dear Science TV on the Radio delivers a mainstream, commercial album largely indistinguishable from many other more quality-oriented R&B or hip hop bands, except perhaps for the obvious musical talent of the musicians. However, gone are the riskier and more creative innovation found on the first two albums, and while I'm sure this will appeal to a broader audience, it is a discard for me. If this is a sign of the direction the band is taking, I'll continue to enjoy Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes and Return to Cookie Mountain and leave the band's future output to delight pop audiences.
Three stars for the musicians' talent. As for the songwriting and musical composition, only two.
Free Music Review: Good but not great
Hit: 3 Stars
I expected more from this album. While there are some amazing tracks (Halfway Home and Golden Age especially), the album generally seems to lack risk and inventiveness and the heavy production rounds most of corners and makes the music feel too empty. There is little room for excitement or surprise here. People talk about "the album as an experience" and I must say there is a lack of one here. I can't listen to Dear Science, beginning to end...it starts to sound too similar and labored. There are assuredly bright spots and I recommend checking this album out but I can only justify the massive critical acclaim for Dear Science, in believing that this is merely a good album in a weaker year for music (so far).Free Music Review: High Ambivalence
Hit: 3 Stars
I can't remember when I felt so ambivalent about an album (and a band) as I do about TVOTR and "Dear Science." There are some terrific songs on the record. But overall the music is so over-thought, so over-arranged and over-produced that it can barely breathe, let alone rock. Every bit of aural space has to be filled with some kind of effect or little gewgaw, as if the band wanted so much to impress the listener with their creativity. They need to loosen up. Maybe get rid of Sitek, since he seems to be responsible for much of the clutter. Tunde Adebimpe's a strong vocalist, but he's down too low in the mix. Maybe the band will get it right the next time. There's enough good stuff on this one to make me hopeful.Free Music Review: Not Up to the Hype
Hit: 3 Stars
While the boys from the Bronx do pretty much repeat their first release, the songs I feel do not live up to the rave reviews by critics. The live performance here in L.A. on 11/6/08 was also a let down from what had been experienced last year at the Fonda.
In terms of the actual product received, the jewel case was cracked.