Review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz

It’s Blitz sees the Yeah Yeah Yeahs add an extra 15 years to their musical career. The “arty” New York band with a wide loyal following have discovered keyboards, synths and the wonders of disco electronica in their third full length album.

In a wonderfully pioneering fashion the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have snatched electro and moulded it into a typical YYY creation. Selectively using only the sounds they need in order to create a soft pop rock masterpiece and avoid a cheesy 80s remake. With seamless tracks such as the feisty “Heads Will Roll”, the pumping anthem “Zero” and the groovy “Dragon Queen”, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are stronger than ever and full of the energy they’ll need for the rest of their career.

This time round the group’s originality lies in their inventive use of traditional sounds, tools and aspects of 2009 music. However, one of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs most interesting characteristics will always be the O. Lead singer Karen O rocks between her sweetly respectful tone in “Runaway” and “Hysteric” and her stomping attitude throughout “Dull Life” and “Zero”, connected together by empowering cries (“Off With Head!”) and breathless calls. Reining in an industry where there are no currently no Kings, she’s the Queen of today’s rock music. She’s a modern day female icon and the absolute star of this band.

One of the reasons why this perfectly formed pop album didn’t score higher than 8.3/10 is my personal preference. Something in me lacked the urge to keep on listening. Disappointingly, this album has not been stuck on repeat since its release date in April. The album owns a disposable quality that I can’t explain and equally the Yeah Yeah Yeahs can’t invent. I see “Its Blitz” as a bit of fun – something to play with for a while before getting back to serious listening.
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