With lyrics and vocals that are just as ambitious and attention-getting as the music surrounding them, TV on the Radio have always had a lot going on in their music. Indeed, Return to Cookie Mountain was so elaborate that topping it would be difficult, so on Dear Science, (yes, the comma is intentional) the band channels its focus into lean, nimble songs with more structure and polish -- and more focus on Tunde Adepimbe's and Kyp Malone's vocals -- than any of TV on the Radio's previous work. This immediacy and crystalline clarity take some getting used to, especially compared to Cookie Mountain's lavish yet organic sound: "Family Tree"'s strings, pianos, and plainly worded vulnerability make it one of the band's most accessible songs, but it doesn't feel like anything was sacrificed to make it so anthemic. That feeling only deepens on the self-evidently sexy "Red Dress," which uses Antibalas' vibrant brass and taut guitars to show-stopping effect.
As Dear Science, unfolds, it becomes clear that it isn't so much a radical change for TV on the Radio as it is a slight but significant shift in approach. "Stork and Owl," an inspired mix of hypnotically looping samples and flowing, real-time soulfulness, and "Love Dog," which boasts some of Adepimbe's most affecting singing since "Staring at the Sun," could have fit easily on earlier albums with a few sonic tweaks. And, like Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes and Return to Cookie Mountain, Dear Science, begins with an epic statement of purpose -- although "Halfway Home" is as sleek as it is grand, sprinting towards its end with streaking guitars -- and ends in an embrace with "Lover's Day," a duet with Celebration's Katrina Ford that turns "I wanna break your back" from a threat to a come-on. Tackling love and war, often within the same song, is all in a day's work for TV on the Radio. However, the band's take on these themes is subtly but notably more optimistic here, as though lightening their sound lightened their mood as well. "DLZ" broods over "the long-winded blues of the never," but on the brilliantly funky "Golden Age," Adepimbe sings "there's a golden age coming 'round" without a trace of irony. Malone's "Crying" calls out the wrongs of the world but ends up just as hopeful as it is angry, while the pun in "Dancing Choose"'s title is pointed enough that the song almost doesn't need to prove that dancing on your troubles is powerfully therapeutic as thoroughly as it does, but that's just another example of this album's rare balance between craft and passion. That comma at the title's end seems naggingly open-ended at first, but it's actually a perfect fit for Dear Science,'s openness to possibilities and positivity.
10. TV On the Radio Dear, Science People were probably thinking that TV On the Radio would have shifted towards the mainstream with their major label debut Return to Cookie Mountain but nothing could have been further from the truth. Instead the band crafted an album that was as weirdly catchy as anything they had done before. Amazingly it was their second major label record, Dear, Science...
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I'm not a TV on The Radio fan but I've heard about them extensively especially with their critically acclaimed release "Dead Science" which was released last month. I know nothing about TV on The Radio's previous records and I'm going in the dark based on the overwhelming critical and public response. TV on the Radio is [...] No related posts.
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TV on the Radio's new album, Dear Science, (4AD/ Interscope) is in stores now.We as the stewards of humanity are fucked failures sitting silently while those charged with our preservation demonstrate incompetence and an unwillingness to answer the call. There is a reason why 2012 is widely accepted by nut-jobs, armchair prophets, and brace-faced over-analyzers as the year God/the gods/celestia...
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TV On The Radio's second album, Return To Cookie Mountain (2006) divided its audience. Some were disappointed, others think they'll never top it. It was an oppressive wall of sound that accomplished exactly what it set out to do. It was a dark, prickly, heavy album that took me two months to properly absorb, and still holds up two years later. Dear Science, is just as complexly layered, but mor...
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"Just because it's weird doesn't make it genius." I don't know why I put quotes around that first line. I don't think anyone famous or worthy of a real "quote" has necessarily said it. I just happen to agree with it. There were some posts in the past month, debating crazy or genius, as well as a post or two that listed off artists that, while critically acclaimed and widely drooled over by ...
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In a recent interview with Tiny Mix Tapes, TV On The Radio's David Sitek said of Dear Science , "I think people make the mistake that they hear the beats or the clarity of the music and think that it's totally optimistic. It is in parts, but it still has a healthy dose of doubt." On the heels of the sinisterly brilliant Return to Cookie Mountain , it's easy to read this new set of songs as upbe...
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New WaxHighly regarded Brooklyn art-rock band TV On The Radio's new album Dear Science is a little less avant-garde and a little more... well, dancy. Any time a band makes a bold step in a new direction it's admirable and the album is being considered by many critics as the band's best material, though I'm not sure if I'm willing to jump on that bandwagon. I really thought the densely cinematic...
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I am only half way through my first spin of TVOTR's Dear Science, and so far i am not sure about the first half, i probably have to listen to it more, but one thing i am sure about: this song "Family Tree" is stunning…immediatly. Quite possibly the best song i have heard all year. [...]
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Whether Dear Science will stand the test of time is impossible to predict right now, but, at this moment in time, it's sounding like one of the albums of the year, and its makers' latest, greatest masterpiece
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--- - "TV On The Radio's third studio album Dear Science is their most cohesive collection so far. At first (and second) listen its highs might not seem as triumphant as \"Staring At The Sun\" or \"Wolf Like Me,\" but on repeat listens, the consistency of its 11 tracks turns it into a more satisfying whole, and soon enough certain songs spread their wings, feel like some of the best of TVOTR's ...
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It's one of the autumn's most anticipated albums, and DiS has sneaked a listen to it - here's our first-impressions reaction to TV On The Radio's third, Dear Science~~
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A few years back when Return To Cookie Mountain was all the rage, many friends of mine kept whispering TV On The Radio in my ear, insisting I would love them. For some reason (probably pure stupidity) I didn't listen. I plugged my ears and sang at the top of my lungs like an ignorant [...]
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Brand new TV On THe Radio track. I'm digging it. The album, Dear Science, is out Sept. 23.
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Brooklyn's TV On The Radio are starting to spice up their Web site tvontheradio.com with new promos for their third full-length Dear Science, due September 23rd. The first? Streaming the album's first single, titled "Golden Age." Not to be confused with the Beck song title of the same name, the TVOTR track is reminiscent of Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" but eventually morphs i...
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I'm in lurve with TV On The Radio. Their new album 'Dear Science' is da shit! It's overall a far more upbeat affair than their previous album 'Return To Cookie Mountain', which I loved dearly. But that album was all over the map & quite quirky whereas this one is far more focused on traditional songwriting(or at least as close to traditional songwriting as TVOTR can get).There are quite a few m...
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Having the iPod touch in the car has changed my life. And I'm not taking about the Google Maps and Tetris apps either. It's been five days since I've gotten all teched-out and I've carefully selected music I want to listen to so much that I can impress people and sing the lyrics eventually. Or say I'm at a festival and they're all like "Hey sidelines, we need you to do back up." Boom! I'm there...
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The Treasure Island Music festival is going bi this year. Now in it's third year, the festival will be split into two genre specific nights. Day one of the festival - Saturday, October 17th - will feature eletronic and dance friendly bands, while day two - Sunday, October 18th - will bring out the finest in indie rock.Brought to the people thanks to long-time SF promoter Noise Pop and Another P...
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In my last post I spoke of being prompted to check out Spin.com's 3 featured new bands. Well, in the latest issue of Spin magazine they named TV On The Radio's latest album 'Dear Science' as their album of the year. It certainly is a great album and worthy of that title. Portishead was literally 'Third'. Santogold is at #6. Hot Chip at #8. Erykah came in at #12 on their year end list. Beck at ...
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Here's a cool track off the new album, Dear Science.
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I believe he was referring to the gentleman on the far left.In case you missed TVOTR on The Colbert Report, you shouldn't and don't have to. The interview is chock full of Colbert in all his snarky splendor, and the performance was electrifying. I have a feeling these guys are going to benefit from "The Colbert Bump".
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I somewhat liken this video to a train wreck... just cant look away... but after 3.47 I did...lolHard to take tap dancing cops seriously.. :-)
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"Just because it's weird doesn't make it genius." I don't know why I put quotes around that first line. I don't think anyone famous or worthy of a real "quote" has necessarily said it. I just happen to agree with it. There were some posts in the past month, debating crazy or genius, as well as a post or two that listed off artists that, while critically acclaimed and widely drooled over by ...
More >
TV On The Radio's second album, Return To Cookie Mountain (2006) divided its audience. Some were disappointed, others think they'll never top it. It was an oppressive wall of sound that accomplished exactly what it set out to do. It was a dark, prickly, heavy album that took me two months to properly absorb, and still holds up two years later. Dear Science, is just as complexly layered, but mor...
More >
Brooklyn art-rockers TV On The Radio were at the Sound Academy in Toronto last night on tour promoting their 2008 record Dear, Science. Judging from the packed room it was one of the more highly anticipated shows of the spring.The band brought a tremendous energy and intensity to their set. Drawing on a good mixture of old and new tracks, TVOTR had the crowd eating out of their hands throughou
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10. TV On the Radio Dear, Science People were probably thinking that TV On the Radio would have shifted towards the mainstream with their major label debut Return to Cookie Mountain but nothing could have been further from the truth. Instead the band crafted an album that was as weirdly catchy as anything they had done before. Amazingly it was their second major label record, Dear, Science...
More >
TV On The Radio's "Dear Science" is the number one album pick of 2008 according to the "quality" British music press. The Brooklyn 5 piece scored highest in the top 50 critical countdown's of the popular magazines NME, Q, Mojo, Uncut, and respected online sites Guardian, MusicOMH, and Drowned In Sound. Combining their votes (50 points for number 1 album, 49 for 2nd etc) and then formulating a c...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Halfway Home |
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| 2 Crying |
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| 3 Dancing Choose |
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| 4 Stork & Owl |
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| 5 Golden Age |
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| 6 Family Tree |
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| 7 Red Dress |
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| 8 Love Dog |
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| 9 Shout Me Out |
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| 10 DLZ |
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| 11 Lover's Day |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Dear Science")
