Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Cool well this one was describes super cool by gpt I'm excited for this one! Hm this first track sounds great. I like the drums in the back, sounds like it's building up for some big climax. This was all right DLZ four stars
mais um gigantesco "ok" pra essa lista pqp
nem eh o que tem wolf like me pqp não eh ruim não. talvez um meio longo? me perdeu um pouco na segunda metade. enfim, eh ok.
Not sure what to make of this one, sounded great in the car, got really into it, put it on at home and it just sounded kinda generic. Need to listen again, but definitely a 6/7.
Benign but enjoyable indie rock
I was at peak indie hipster in the late 2000s, curating bespoke playlist after bespoke playlist on my brand new Spotify account and voraciously consuming Pitchfork. I had had enough of TV on the Radio by the time of their third album - yes Wolf Like Me was an all-time banger, but I wished everyone would stop telling me how amazing they are. Which is a shame, because I actively avoided this great album. 2026 me, slightly more portly and significantly more grey, can’t believe how good this is.
Are we sure this is all the same band?
This is actually sick! Very funky sounding Bon Iver
A pretty good album, a couple of great songs. Mid 3s.
there's better, earlier TVOTR to choose here IMO, but this is still damn good. 5* from me here just to battle the idiots
I liked this
Interesting - I knew Tunde throigh his work with Mike Patton as part of Nevermen, and new a track or two, but this is a great mix of styles and ideas. Part Radiohead, part Talking Heads, part psychedelic jam. Every track has something interesting, and coming after a few one-paced records it was a nice change. One criticism is that for all the ideas, nothing really stuck in my mind - the collage of sounds maybe prevented any earworms getting stuck in the memory, but it may be that a few more listens fix that. For now, a strong 4.
I like this! Catchy Indie with great soundscapes and interesting rhythms. Dead funky at times, too. A 4 or a 5 but a bit of a discovery for me. Made me happy. A five it must be then.
Liked this one. My only criticism would be the drums sound more programmed than played - a pet peeve of mine. Not distracting enough for me to downgrade the whole album, but still a slight annoyance. Beyond that, though, solid songs and solid performances.
A 1-star rating for me pretty much means I didn't like it. Not much else to say ... I didn't like it.
This was hot garbage. It was gold plating on top of gold plating, with nothing supporting it. Such a mess, and substandard pop to start with. I'm glad I was just mowing the lawn to it, because when I finished I was done with the album. And it wasn't good for that either. My rating: 2/5
music is love
It's an... okay-ish album? One of the many times you stop and think "I've enjoyed it, but does this really have to be something to listen to before I die". The answer is generally no.
Maybe this caught me on a bad day… but I genuinely hated this one
I was fine with it at first, and then Red Dress came on and genuinely startled me.
This album was a better ode to science than that song Hank Green dropped in 2014. DLZ is carrying a lot of weight with my review... I forgot how cool the song is. I also forgot that it was featured in Breaking Bad.
after a while i sorta forgot i was listening to anything
idk what i was expecting but it wasn't this. it was enjoyable enough but i'm not coming back
I liked these guys a good deal in high school, especially when 'Seeds' was being rolled out. They don't have much to offer me anymore. 'Return to Cookie Mountain' is a dope album that probably should have beat the two TVOTR albums on this list.
I’ve been meaning to listen to this the whole way through for quite some time and had it and Return to Cookie Mountain on my iPod for literal years without listening to either because it just never appeals to me when I get there. Idk it’s fine. I’m whelmed. BUT, and this is key, it kept me cognizant of the fact that trying to marathon all these albums is not super conducive to appreciating them in full. I hate to just toss something aside because it didn’t really appeal to me today without putting in the work to try to actually understand it.
This is a record heightened by our 1001 albums journey. I can hear and appreciate a mix of Prince’s sensual sound, Fela Kuti’s rhythms, and the grit and tempo of 70’s punk on this album. That combo doesn’t always hit, but it’s certainly worth listening to before ya kick the bucket. TV on the radio is such a unique band!
Quite good. Electronic, Indie rock Top tracks Halfway home, Crying and DLZ
One of the defining albums of the blog era.
TV On The Radio are a band I've been familiar with for a while but I've never really taken the chance to fully get into them aside from 'Wolf Like Me'...and I wish I liked this more, because this really didn't do anything for me. I just don't really like the more electronic or funk elements and while I do think it actually ends really well, with the last two songs being pretty great, as a whole it felt too overlong and I just was not a fan of most of it.
Nice sound and tempo, echoes of Talking Heads 80's Bowie
I liked a few tracks
Ewww...no.
I loved this when it came out. I see their name now and I remember that I was once excited about them but can’t remember why. This album is perfectly fine. Was it the derth of rock at the time that made me so excited? Have my tastes simply changed?
Bueno
This was pretty good. I had never heard of "TV On The Radio" but I found this album very interesting. Some songs I enjoyed: "Halfway Home", "Stork & Owl", "Family Tree", "Red Dress", or "Lover's Day". This is at least 3 stars...even close to 4 stars.
Subpar killers tat. Not worth imitating. Annoying as a whole
Breaking bad reference
So they include my least favourite TotR album then my favourite. Possible my favourite album of 2008, or that's what I told Kip Malone when I met him after their gig in Manchester. Dancing Choose, Red Dress, Love Dog, DLZ. It's fun, inventive, and 5 stars.
i feel like my ratings are all over the place lately. i kept going back between 3 and 4 with this but DLZ is just so good, so am gonna go with 4.
This is great! I have never listen to TV on the radio before. I think I'd assumed they were some modern American hardcore band, maybe something like brand new (who I've also not really listened to). I was very wrong. There is a lot of Interesting elements and influences here. I really enjoyed it. Interestingly when sitting down to write about it nothing especially springs to mind as a standout point, I just left with the impression I really liked it and would want to listen to it again and more of their stuff. And you know what, after flickering ng back through I'm still in the same situation. Nothing in particular made me like it, it was just all of it being interesting and different throughout the album. A strong 4.
Bien.
nicht so meins. düster.
Etwas von allem
ахуенно
Great surprise! Fantastic album!
Man I loved this album when it came out. I wasn't keen on the band before this album, but something about this one completely enraptured me. It pulled all the right strings for me musically. Surprised it's on the list, but very pleased that I spent another day with it today.
When people recently started using the term "industry plant" I thought of TV on the Radio... When these guys hit the scene it really felt like they were being shoved down our throats by critics and as a good hipster I did my best to swallow! But I couldn't, it's just so mediocre. Hadn't thought about them since then so I listened with fresh ears and yeah, it still sucks. People comparing them to Prince?! Bowie?! Huh?! At best they sound like a shitty U2 (and they got pretty shitty in the later years!) I really dislike the vocals, the weak "funk" guitar riffs and the songwriting in general. And the cover art! Fuck it, I'm going all the way down to 1 star
interesting and random at times. Just dont get it totally why this one is on the list...
TV On The Radio was quite an unknown band to me, as the only song I knew beforehand was Wolf Like Me. Their third studio album, "Dear Science" is a critically acclaimed album. And I do get the appeal, especially on a sonical level. For example, "Halfway Home" stretches long but does not get boring. "Dancing Choose" is a banger with fast-paced verses and a well-sung chorus. Great song structure. The same goes for "Golden Age" and "Red Dress": great choruses and instrumentals. Vocal pitches are also greatly used in a wide variety through the album. There are a flaws though, which mainly has to do with the lyrics. Some of the aforementioned songs, however strong they are sonically, suffer the same fate. For example, "Stork & Owl" has really odd lyrics which I do not understand and the song bores me quite a bit. "Love Dog", a slow song about one-sided loyalty or love, is another example that does not really spark my interest, apart from its clear lyrics. "DLZ" may be one of the band's most popular songs due to Breaking Bad, and the lyrics do connect well to the series. However, the song sounds a little uninteresting compared to its popularity. "Family Tree", is also a very clear and good song lyrically, about a couple where one of the families has a discriminatory stance towards the significant other of their child. This, together with its beautiful performance, makes it a standout song on the album. All in all, I really enjoyed this album musically, with a few duds and vague uninterpretable lyrics. Best: Family Tree; Golden Age; Dancing Choose; Red Dress; Halfway Home Worst: Stork & Owl
I think I'll review this exactly how I would review Taco Bell's cheesy roll up. Completely inoffensive, but devoid of any substance. It feels uninspired like the simplest possible composition of music in its genre. It might hit the spot when you're high, I wouldn't know, but it didn't do anything for me.
Yeah, it's a pretty good album. Nothing wrong with it. It wasn't anything spectacular though.
Not my style. Good instrumentation but lyrics could be gibberish for all I know.
Not bad, but really who cares? 3
Always nice to be reminded of groups who inspired others.
Not really listened before, one to try again.
A better version of The Arcade Fire’s layered “press a button, be happy” synth-revenue model. One of the better albums I’ve heard served from a microwave. But don’t you miss when synths were bonkers and scary? If you do, give Dead Rider a go.
To my ears one of the best albums this century. Could be a Prince/Bowie collaboration at the height of their powers, and I don't say that lightly. I know every note and it's all fantastic
Not bad
TV On The Radio – Dear Science (2008) On Day 206, I jumped into a decent album that unfortunately didn't fully justify its spot for me. Sonically, it is undeniably great, and I am a really great fan of the overall production capability on display across the tracklist. During the session, I found a few songs that I definitely liked, specifically "Crying," "Family Tree," and "Love Dog." However, looking at the bigger picture, I honestly can't see why this project belongs on the definitive list. If this had been a random side discovery, I probably would have loved it, but experiencing it towards this specific challenge felt a bit out of point. It's a good record, but I could easily try to name 1001 albums better than it. A flat 3/5.
Flavor of 2008. I can see why people like this. They're millennials and like nostalgia.
good
Good but not brilliant has interest.
I’m on vacation so I’ll come back and edit this later. One of my 40 or so favorite albums. The full maturing and culmination of their whole project. Every song is weird and grand.
meh
I’ve heard of TV on the Radio. I don't think I know any songs by them. I didn't know any on this album at least. I always thought I didn’t like them, and I was right. It was indie rock/pop but not good.
I like a lot of TV on the Radio's stuff. This album has some great stuff on it, but it's not a phenomenal album. They've always been somewhat hit or miss for me, but when they hit they're incredible.
Eh
This was a great album. Never even heard of these guys until this. What a great voice and the music just flows.
its finally "indie band that nobody cares about" time. im sincerely glad. oh wait a minute this is a critic classic and is actually really good? what the hell 4/5
This will be the second time I’ve listened to this jarring album through this generator and frankly I have the choice to not do that - so I won’t.
Boring hipster music from 2008
These albums make me not wanna do this list.
Which a well put together set of tracks that despite never hearing I felt at home with instantly. Favourite track - both different but struggling to choose between ‘Dancing choose’ which was a bouncey and toe tapping smash but also for me the hauntingly beautiful ‘family tree’ was sublime. I think ‘family tree’ just takes it today. It gave me massive Courteeners vibes too. DLZ- weakest track dogs lost its lead and the band are running out of ideas imo and the last track follows suit to, a real shame that the album petered out two tracks short of the finish. I absolutely loved it though and will be returning! 9/10
TV on the Radio - Dear Science What a great surprise. First half this album is insanely good. A perfect mix of Numan, Beach Boys, Prince, Nine in Nails and Bowie....as if anyone could ever imagine such a thing! The massive driving surf synths of Halfway House give way to urbanesque dancing rhythms on Crying and Dancing Choose, which hand over to the delicacy of Stork and Owl and Family Life, with the sublime Prince/Bowie Golden Age sandwiched in between. An absolute killer run of tracks that, unfortunately, the second half of the album just can't match up to 😕 Still, I'll come back for a third listen in case I've missed something in those songs. Best Track - hard to pick but Stork and Owl has to get it for me. And those little plucked strings have definitely been borrowed by Damon Albarn for Orange County on the latest Gorillaz album! Worst Track - DLZ 8/10
Bowie-esque
Review - a great example of the mid mid noughties. Score 4/10 Need to listen? NO
decent, not my favorite though
Radiohead for extroverts Released the same day my cat was born (RIP Mitzy). Unlike Mitzy though, I give this album 3 stars.
Sprawling, ambitious, melodic. I wish I had appreciated these guys more in the moment.
Typical late 2000’s indie rock, in other words pretty forgettable
For better or worse, we’re stuck with the peak indie narrative forever. From 2008-2010, we got an all time run of records by indie bands that guaranteed them huge amounts of critical acclaim and prime spots at festivals for at least a few years before other cultural forces ebbed that tide. You know what I’m referring to: Merriweather Post Pavilion, xx, Bitte Orca, Fleet Foxes, Veckatimest, This Is Happening, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, It’s Blitz!, Actor, Halcyon Digest, Teen Dream. And you know what? Dear Science is still my favorite album from that brief supernova era. All those albums I mentioned cover a wide range of styles and if they have a common denominator it’s that they’re done by bands who A) made mostly guitar-based music and B) began expanding their sound in one way or another. It’s both easy and hard to describe how TV on the Radio made that jump: they traded the noise of their first three releases into cleaner production, more synths, and a wider range of genre experiments than before. Opener “Halfway Home” suggests a punk ethos but belies it almost immediately with Tunde Adebimpe’s wordless, poppier-than-ever vocal hook. From there, we’re off, jumping right into “Crying”, which features one of my favorite of Adebimpe’s vocal performances as well as one of my favorite synth melodies that jumps in near the end of the song; lyrically the song calls for a revolution but it’s ambiguous if it’s personal or political. Arguably the most openly political song on the album is its funkiest; “Red Dress” opens with the album’s most iconic lyric (“Hey jackboot! Fuck your war!/‘Cause I’m fat and in love and no bombs are falling on me for sure”). Its verses condemn contemporary racism backed with a Fela via Talking Heads groove that ends with each instrumental part cutting out from the song. In between, you’ve got some truly gorgeous ballads, particularly “Family Tree”, a paean to relationships deemed taboo by regressive attitudes, and some true bangers, like the drum’n’bass-inspired “Shout Me Out”, where its narrator pleads for a relationship that may be failing. Dear Science navigates its contradictions with a deftness you seem from few other artists. This mostly comes from the aforementioned ambiguous lyrics, delivered as strongly as ever by Adebimpe, one of indie rock’s best singers, but just as well from the rest of the band, who deliver all their best performance on this album. The only reason I can’t give more individual credit is because outside of Adebimpe, each member of the band gets multi-instrumental credit and my copy of the record doesn’t indicate who did what where. With that in mind, the climax of the record comes with maybe its most unique and enduring song, “DLZ”, suffused with paranoia from its opening synth/drums riff to Adebimpe’s infinitely creepy “la la” riff to its increasingly complex metaphors, leading to its famous closing: “This is beginning to feel like the dawn of the loser forever”. Earlier I said this was my favorite “peak indie” album since that’s the specific time it came out of, but honestly if I had to pick its closest sonic parallel it’d be tune-yards’ whokill, which came out at the end of that era a little bit later: both albums share indie rock influences but also influences from jazz and Afrobeat and pop, filtered through their respective artists’ increased prowess and budget in the studio compared to before. I make this comparison not to say they exemplify a genre or era, but that they both represented something unique that probably couldn’t be replicated again. For their part, TVOTR went on to make Nine Types of Light (whose a-music-video-for-every-song concept is definitely worth checking out, especially since it preceded Beyoncé by a few years) and Seeds, two pretty good albums whose creation was overshadowed by the death of drummer Gerard Smith from cancer in 2010. Smith is excellent here, and his contributions on this album loom large over his legacy, but I don’t want to reduce the album to a singular contributor either. Dear Science is a singular meeting of the minds, an album that’s incredibly fun to think about and even easier to groove to.
Veidrad, samas põnevad ideed instrumentaali osas. Vokaal on ikka 90% lohisev, laisk ja jube. Ma ei mõista seda stiili ja pikalt seda ei kuulaks. 2.7/5
this experience is making me realise i don't know a lot of artist lol. another first. not necessarily bad but i didn't enjoy it.
The most FIFA 12 sounding album in the best way. Interesting and makes you want to listen. Doesn't get old throughout the album. Will need to give a relisten as this had the potential for a 5, and I don't feel I appreciated it enough until the end.
Never heard of this band before. Some really interesting stuff here. Not everything sticks for me but there are some highlights
I remember NME absolutely loving this album at the time and me not quite getting it. As always with this band it’s really eclectic and does stand out as being different. Enjoyed the re-listen but doubt it’s one I will go back to often
Either collectively or individually the band members are heavily influenced by Prince. Apart from a few songs of his I don’t like Prince despite his musical abilities. So I conclude that if it wasn’t for the inclusion of the ‘Princy’ songs this would be a great album. The first track is exceptional and made me think I was in for a great new discovery. But then came along the shadow of you know who to spoil things. I could extract a few good songs from the album to make an exceptional good EP which thanks to the marvels of streaming playlists I’m about to do. 3/5 27/6/26
I liked this, one song was like a much better version of Coldplay
Fun to revisit
Not for me personally, but I can see why people like it - definitely a refreshing, original sounding album.
An album that I've tried before but which ultimately wasn't for me at all. I lost interest quickly this time around as well, it felt like it was trying to be too clever at points but in a thoroughly dull way. Couldn't connect with it at all.
A good beat you can dance to. I enjoyed it. They have a unique sound.
Tédio. 3/5
This album was all over the place in a good way. Lots of different instruments, varied tempos and vibes song-to-song, loved it. Favorite Track: Golden Age
Þrjú rennsli, fínir sprettir en heilt yfir ekkert brjálæðislegt eftirtektarvert. Solid þristur.
I bought this some years ago, but I haven't listened to it in quite a while. Let's reacquaint and see how it holds up. The thing is that TVotR did the rock fusion thing better than most of their peers, in part because they started from a rock mindset, instead of making a pop song or a hip hop song or a soul song and then just cramming distorted guitars in to pretend it isn't those genres. Amy Grant's “Good for Me” has a ripping guitar solo, but it's still pure pop. But TV can slip a little electronic, a little drum machine, a little soulfulness and a little funk into “Crying” and it always feels like it serves the sound. I can only get so into the most dancey bits here, and the album definitely lacks a few good Wolf Like Me moments, but there are some solid compositions in “Family Tree” or the Running Down a Dream vibes of “Shout me Out,” and it's a solid listen throughout. It's probably lightly so, but i'll give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s alright - a band and album I’ve never heard of but fits with the kind of indie pop wave of the mid aughts. A little more introspective than like Matt and Kim or Passion Pit, with more songs a bit more toned down so almost a mix with something like The National. I’m not sure if the album is front loaded or if I just lost interest the further it went on. A fine album.
I like how it plays with influences, it's a little experimental, but still very accessible indie pop.
Interesting choice to make it on the list, would’ve assumed return to cookie mountain would be on here, if anything. It’s not a bad album, but at the same time I’m not blown away, none of the songs really got to the level of wolf like me or happy idiot. Heroic dose was a nice little interlude though
TV on the radio kastar sig mellan genrer. Ibland låter det Coldplay, ibland som blek Prince. Däremellan någon rap och indie rock. Inget av det blir mer än halvbra. Jag föredrar album som är mer konsekventa i sitt uttryck och mitt råd till TVOTR är att satsa på en stil och gör det riktigt bra.
Har ett svagt minne av att TOR var högt upp på någon av Sonics årsbästalistor. Blev nyfiken på att lyssna då men det är först nu det verkligen blir av. Har tydligen inte missat särskilt mycket. Ordinär 00-talspop. Och vi vet alla att 00-talet inte var det starkaste decenniet om vi ska leta musikaliska mästerverk. Svag sång och allt för ofta trist Coldplayproduktion. När det sen ska bli funkigt som i Red dress vill jag helst av allt stänga av. Det är finns spår som inte är lika dåliga, men inte direkt några som är bra.
Överlastad produktion. Förmodligen för att försöka dölja de mediokra låtarna. Bästa spår; Non-Musical Silence. Svag tvåa.
This is all a bit over-blown, over-produced and rather over complicated - I enjoyed the first track but the album overstayed its welcome somewhat.
4★/5 06.17.2026
this is poo
the good: Colin Stetson appearance!!! Synth outro on "Crying" was cool. "Family Tree" is a pretty song. the bad: Some of these songs were very annoying. Just loud, unappealing noise. Vocalist works much better on the slower, more atmospheric songs, which seems kind of strange considering their biggest (and probably best) song is an uptempo rock number. Ends up being extremely blah at the end of the day.
Catchy indie rock. Pretty nice.
Couldn’t finish, very meh at best. Lots of incoherent yelling and just blasting of music.
I liked Family Tree. Otherwise.. I couldn’t really vibe with this one.
I really loved this on one listen, which is usually a bad sign - I find a slower on ramp usually returns longer love. But what the hell.
This is an interesting album that's a little all over the map. I'm hearing sounds that remind me of many different artists, including the King of Leon album we just had, so idk how to place this genre-wise. I don't love it, but it's decent.
This turned out to be a surprising gem imo. Never heard of anything about it before. Made for greasy Sunday morning breakfast tunes.
Had its moments, but a bit all over the place. Highlights were a pocket of really great songs deep in the album, Love Dog, Shout me out, and Dlz. Some other decent songs sprinkled in, but a few that soured things.
Some very catchy tunes, but also some blander ones. Overall a bit too lenghty for my taste. A little bit bloated
Much more accessible than "Return to Cookie Mountain," but still very niche, and indie, and strange. "Halfway Home," "Crying," "Golden Age," and "DLZ" are all excellent. I found "Family Tree" to sound exactly like Coldplay somehow, which I wasn't expecting. TVOTR is an odd band that writes odd music- but this album seems to run the fine line between bizarre and satisfying. I really enjoyed it. FOUR STARS
I liked bits and pieces of this album, but generally this felt overlong and relatively forgettable. I may have heard some of these songs back in 2008 but nothing that stuck. Like their other album from the project, it’s just not doing anything for me.. 2.25/5
Jersey Girl!
lowbrow, indie, art rock-y album from a group hailing from brooklyn. it's another one of those albums that sounds a little dreamy and audibly content but a lot of the subject matter is conscious and relates to current affairs (or at least current when the album came out). i always seem to have a love-hate relationship with indie music, but for once in a fat bit, while it's still far from the sound i like... i found it pretty okay to listen to. vocals are probably one of the biggest hurdles with music like this, and while the voices are similar in that sleazy throaty... kinda awkward energy, it actually sounds pleasing to my ear. these guys can actually hold a note! i feel like this album would probably only get better with time, it's a matter of me not being so picky and just trying to listen to it more, if it comes in my mind again. i like the some of the groovier funky tracks compared to the spacey and airy ones.
own
Somewhat familiar with the band. Kind of hard to describe their version of rock, but I like the vocals and the sound when I'm the right mood, even if none of the songs of this particular album stay with me once it's over
This group has been a big blind spot for me - I have heard about them a lot and (my memory is foggy but) I think I checked out their first album and it didn't grab me so I never bothered to check them out any more than that. Unfortunate because I like this! And now I regret missing Tunde Adebimpe at Big Ears this year (although looking at the schedule I see that he was opposite my David Byrne show, so I wasn't going to see him regardless...) This is an easy 3 stars for me and might even be 4 stars with a few more listens.
I couldn't get with this one. I'd seen that this is classified as indie,so it couldn't be too bad. Like the first track was a complete earworm, it sounded like Joey Ramone (of the Ramones) was doing the humming. I don't recall liking the rest of the album. I think the instrumentation - especially near the end - was really quite dense and busy, by the last couple tracks I was completely done with it and wanted to be over. Which the emotions it gave me sure influenced my rating and made me more critical than I otherwise would've been. I like shoegaze music, so it's not in general dense music, just the way they went about specifically doing it I suppose made me overstimulated. I didn't like it; won't see myself returning to it. Highlight Song/s: "Halfway Home"
I could see this album playing throughout an early 2010s indie movie and I am really not mad about it. Chill instrumentals!
I didn't hate this album and I wouldn't be mad if someone put it on at a party, but it felt a bit overwrought, a little try-hard. The stock samples (eg the clapping), flowery lyrics that gesture at poetry while not really synthesizing into anything very interesting, the orchestral instrumentals layered with synth samples that were lovely on some tracks but cacophonous on others - I wanted it to work. But it didn't really come together the way I wished it did. bro he just pronounced tether as "teether" to rhyme it with ether, fuck off. songs where the instrumentals worked best: stork & owl, golden age
Not great. Not horrible. But not good. Would not recommend or listen to again.
3.5
This has sweet moments and danceble moments, strangely enjoyable album.
I don't dislike it. They fill the same niche that Alabama Shakes do...and I like the Shakes a lot more. I like this album more than Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes. The affected voice of the lead singer is annoying me now. It's too much on some of the songs. I am nitpicking now, I like this album. Lover's Day reminds me of Neil Diamond's Coming to America. I like this album...TV On The Radio is one of the bands I've discovered in this project that I like.
I knew them from Wolf Like Me and was delighted by this album. Definitely adding it to the regular rotation.
Meh it's fine, not ground breaking but easy to listen to
Very interesting and had some fun moments but a bit too much for consistent listening.
A good album but a little too mellow at times
I couldn’t get through this one. The singing was just awful. Felt like the lead thought they could do this high pitched whinny style and then proceeded to do that the entire album. 1/10
Just ok - probably won't listen again.
It was fine, I liked Family Tree most
Did not like about half the songs, especially Lover's Day.
I really don’t understand this band in the slightest. After listening to both of their albums for this project, Dear Science is the second of 2 TV On The Radio albums I have rolled, following Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes. Virtually every comment I made about that album I still feel the same way about this time around as well. It’s almost shocking to me that either album was included. They’re both fine, but I’d hardly say either are important enough to include in the book. I’ve never heard of this artist, so unless I’ve been living under a rock, they were probably a flash in the pan. Hardly worth celebrating twice. Every song here is such a radically different tone shift, it’s like they just recorded a million different things and wanted to see if any of them stuck. Some songs are very light almost orchestral beats, others are light Rock, there’s a tiny bit of Electronica here and there, and some are pretty Funky. None of them blow me away, and most of them leave me wanting just a bit more. Some even seem like parody or imitations of much better bands. The songs I enjoyed on this album really stood out though, and all of them prominently feature the lead singer singing his heart out with very high energy. My favorite songs are all the ones where you can tell everyone was having a blast recording. “Dancing Choose” almost starts in a rap, but remains a fun little bop throughout, cool trumpet included. “Red Dress” might not be the most memorable song on the album, but it was actually my favorite of the bunch. It’s the most traditional Rock song on the album, has some cool vocals, a good beat, and a catchy hook. I really appreciated how well it all flowed together and wasn’t overly artsy like so much of the album is. The other song I really liked was “DLZ”. I can see why it was the big hit on this album. It’s catchy, a bit dramatic, and a bit edgy, but it’s certainly got charm as well. Perfectly encapsulated the kind of music that was very popular pretty much throughout the entire 2000’s to late 2010’s. I didn’t love this album admittedly. They try to do too much and don’t succeed a lot of the time. When it’s not really good, it’s usually pretty boring, or worse, skippable. There’s a lot of skippable songs here. But when they actually manage to find their groove, I’m into it. Still though, it’s an alright album. I wouldn’t really want to return to it, but it was fun enough listening to today. We’ll go with a 3.4/5 for this, and move on to the next one. That’s another band done, I’m starting to really make some good progress here.
Great album, absolutely love most of the tracks. There are a few “meh” songs here that keep it from being a 5 star, but it’s pretty close. Good stuff.
Ehhh, this is both annoying and boring, all while pretending to be hip. It's not necessarily bad, but definitely not for me.
4.5, rounded up!
This band and album had been recommended to me by friends when I was in college. I haven't listened to them in years but as soon as I hit play I remembered how I used to put this on repeat to study. I thought it was great then and it still holds up. What a nostalgic listen.
This just seems like a pretty good band. Nothing special.
Bem melhor do que eu esperava pelo nome. Vale conferir outros álbuns
I love Wolf Like Me from Return to Cookie Mountain, but could not get into the rest of that record at all. So, I was not really looking forward to this record that much. But I’m glad it popped up cause I’m really enjoying it. It’s a good deal more melodic than the previous record, yet the band still kinda does their own thing on it. I’ll be revisiting this one again. 8/10
TV On The Radio is another one of these bands that I hear on the radio from time to time but have never listened to an entire album of, which is the sort of thing I’m doing this project for. I'm guessing I've never followed up with these guys because a lot of these tracks are smoother than what usually gets my attention. But it's a tuneful, enjoyable rock album with bits of funk, interesting vocals, solid percussion, and strings and horn sections adding to the sound here and there, so what's not to like. I might check them out for a repeat listen. Favorite tracks: "Red Dress," "Love Dog" 4 stars
Really good
Genuinely one of the worst albums on this list. Like Coldplay and U2 had a child. This was so hard to get through, I didn't know 50 minutes could be so long. There was a lack of focus throughout the album, which was annoying and distracting. I just hated this so much and also the guy can't sing
TV on the Radio is always fun to listen to. I enjoyed this album.
Well this was a thoroughly naughties affair. It had a few standout tracks but I’m not sure how often I’d listen to them.
Who is going out and paying for this. It's absolutely awful. Not for me
Fun shit
One little-discussed phenomenon that occasionally occurs during this process is that which occurs when one reads one's project partner's review before listening and rating an album. It is clearly obvious that I am enjoying TV on the Radio significantly more than my project partner so far. That said, his derision perhaps affected my listen of this album. i enjoyed it a lot, but that little seed sprouted. Am I enjoying it too much? The faintness of the derision proved a more effective watering-can to my doubt than a downright hate-rating.
On of my (many) regrets of this project has been giving Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes three stars. Should’ve been two! I said to myself for weeks afterwards, while radiating weird vibes that made the other people in the elevator uncomfortable. Although I enjoyed this album more, I give it two in an attempt to right the wrongs of the past.
Ok album
Ok
I really enjoyed this album. There’s a lot going on in these songs but it still feels simple and uncluttered and everything comes together into sounds that are both unusual and catchy at the same time. The songs have real groove to them, which isn’t something you always get with indie rock. You can hear bits of all different styles of music mixed in and I dug it. A high 3.
Quite the eclectic collection of tunes. One track I swear I’m listening to a knockoff version of The Cure and the next it’s a poor man’s Red Hot Chili Peppers. I truthfully am confused and don’t know if I liked it or not.
I like where this was going even if it didn’t always get there. Good background / mixer music but nothing too introspective.
Not what I expected from indie rock. Whatever this is, I dont like it. Bland and I wasn't a fan of his falsetto.
Intro track was pretty cool but it sort of tapered off after the first two tracks. Still enjoyed it. Parts of it were pretty cool
Dear Science? Dear God. As in dear god, this was blah. Not bad, just there.
big 3
I don’t understand why this is on the list. This was flavor of the month stuff from 18 years ago and has had no lasting impact. The listeners are much lower than other bands of the time which shows that this has come and gone.
Nearly nearly a 5 for me on first listen. Maybe it will be in the future. How I missed an album like this from the golden age of blog rock is beyond me. Love how you never know where a song will go based on how it opens. How each track settles you into a groove almost like hypnosis and then wakes you out of it with one shift. A lot left to find from this album but in my opinion could be a personal classic
So many good cuts on this. Any time an indie/alternative band throws strings in the mix I’m a sucker for it unfortunately.
Very good thank you
GOOD STUFF! Finally after what seemed like weeks of dregg
The fifth song on the album, “Golden Age”, was the first that interested me. This is not a bad album but another that calls into question the judgment of the original list maker. Given the wealth of creative music in the world, it shouldn’t be hard to pick a thousand that are truly remarkable and even unique. This album has a few good songs but doesn’t qualify as either remarkable or unique. It’s eminently forgettable. Probably a 2 star album. My life is no richer for being exposed to this band 😆
Wat notities tussendoor; -Het begin van het album was wel oke, maar pakte me nog niet helemaal -Family tree en red dress pakken me wel! Misschien dat de tweede helft van het album gewoon wat sterker is ofzo -Love dog pakt me ook wel! Ik denk oprecht dat de tweede helft wel beter is ja -Shout me out pakt me oook!!!!! Misschien dat ik dit album wel ooit even een tweede kans geef om te kijken of de eerste helft nou echt gewoon minder was of dat het aan mij ligt -DLZ is interessant! Niet slecht maar die vier liedjes hiervoor pakten me meer 7.5/10
oops
Not to my tastes and not interesting either
A bit boring.
Pleasant background indie
Really love this record, takes me back to the early 2010s and a really great period of musical discovery for me, although does it belong on this list? Unsure.
Good songs, but I won't remember most of them a week from now.
Tremendous start with three huge bangers. Good throughout though. Top tracks: "Crying," "Halfway Home," "Dancing Choose"
--Halfway Home…a wall/cacophony of sound. it’s pleasant. The last minute kicks it up a notch --Crying…Bowie-esque --Dancing Choose…I like how horn-forward this is. vocals not great --Stork & Owl...melodrama --Golden Age...I enjoy the beat but the production is overwhelming. every successful band artist doesn't need a Phil Spector record --Family Tree...the schmalzy production works for this one. but also descends into melodrama --Red Dress...digging the funky horns. groovy bass, too --Love Dog...something a little more restrained. still a little over produced but very nice --Shout Me Out...the Radio Friendly Unit Shifter. the back half is fun --DLZ...this is great. they create a great sense of foreboding --Lover's Day...I like half the song. would prefer to like all of it. I appreciate the big swing
joa. 3/5. war gut aber is nit volle positiv aufgfallen
Sevenine gider de beni sarmadı çok yapay geldi
Basic shit
I saw them play dancing choose on some late show when this album came out and loved it. Not sure why I never sought out the rest of the album, wish I had, it’s good.
boring
I have tried to enjoy TV on the Radio in the past and it has not stuck. They are like Bloc Party with a little more weirdness in their sound. Overall, this was a fine album and I guess it should be in the book. Honestly, I can take or leave TV on the Radio. Dear Science is fine, but it is also the kind of album that gave music critics a huge boner in the 2000's, because it gave them an "underground" band they could claim to understand more than you. "This is good music, you just don't get it like I do." Not bad but what TV on the Radio is doing here, I like better when other artists do it. I enjoyed listening to TV on the Radio more now than I had prior, so there is that.
Poppiger Sound. Locker und verspielt. Nichts, was ich kenne, aber ok zu hören. 3/5
Something about this just doesn't connect with me. I'm not sure how to best quantify it, but the album just feels overly synthetic/digital in a way that doesn't appeal to me. It's not bad, but lacks a certain element that keeps me from truly enjoying it.
They play really well, all the songs sound distinct, and they clearly have a vast array of influences. But I really didn't like any song besides Love Dog for some reason, and I thought that the whole thing would turn around after that. No, there was just more Arcade Fire theatrics in a more jagged, awkward sounding way to me.
It's a good album but not great. It's got some jams I used to love and come back to occasionally but I was never really sold on them being great
Not my vibe yo 2/5
I know I need to familiarize myself with more music made this century. But so much of what’s been represented in this project is about as inspiring as plain yogurt. Not bad, but almost immediately forgotten.
Eclectic alternative that seems to work. I’d like a second listen sometime, so I’ll round up.
Didn't know the band. An OK album.
very lovely
Ok album. I just don't understand why is it on this 1001 list.
#388 / 1089 Heard before? ❌ Revisit? ❌ ✅ TV On The Radio has been just a name on hipster music influencers playlists to me. I read a bit before spinning the album and I was mildly interested in their mix of influences. However, the likes of Stereogum and Pitchfork are usually quite plentiful with their hyperbole, so when they say post-rock or punk or whatever the fuck else, it's usually not even close to how I would describe any of it. So far, this sounds like indie pop with electronic vibes and a touch of modern soul and r'n'b. Got bored around mid way through, skipped to an apparently popular track "DLZ" and gave up. Luke warm 3/5
The breaking bad song Album! Other than that, it’s not great preferred the last 3 songs BEFORE the boring ending, it’s taking itself so boringly seriously like what are we doing here
Very good very good
This is quite good! I picked up their second album, "Return to Cookie Mountain", when it came out and it really didn't grab me. But maybe I wasn't ready for it. Who knows? I'll have to go back and listen now.
Very much not my jam.
I think this is their high point. It covers a lot of musical ground with indie, funk, R&B, electropop elements. I saw them on this tour and they were incredible live. Every one is doing cool things if you listen. There are a couple of songs that I’m ambivalent about but love the album, especially Halfway Home and Family Tree.
Between 3 and 4 on this one. The excellent first track, and a couple of others, bump it to 4.
4/5 - TVOTR is one of my favorite bands from the 2000s, and oddly enough, this is the album of theirs I've probably listened to the least. I doubt this is essential listening, but I like pretty much everything they do, so I'm happy to give it a 4. I'll probably listen to this all day. Not sure I'll have another chance to plug it, so if you haven't seen the "Wolf Like Me" Letterman performance from 20 years ago (!!!), just watch it: https://youtu.be/MxawVMQ02dc?si=LbWxZxoq1GgA9VXf
Twee keer gedraaid, twee keer nauwelijks gemerkt dat het op stond. Oor-in-oor-uit-muziek kortom. Met andere woorden, niet ergerniswekkend, maar ook niet opvallend goed of aanstekelijk. Wat heb ik nou eigenlijk gehoord? Wat beatjes, wat getoeter en wat vage zang. Een nog saaiere Coldplay. Sorry, maar Sjef van Oekel zou zeggen: heb ik dáár m'n schoenen voor gepoetst??
Ik haak al af bij de eerste klanken: "pa pa pa". Maar het is de lijst, dus ik zet door. En het wordt gelukkig wel iets beter dan dat. Het vorige album van deze band dat we kregen was het debut en sterk experimenteel. Dit album is wat meer in balans. Er komt af en toe ineens flinke elektronica bij en er wordt eens wat afwijkend gezongen. Maar zo gek als eerder wordt het niet. Het is ook nooit goed. Want wat krijg je dan? In plaatst van een 2 voor de experimenten scoor je dan een 3 voor de vergeetbaarheid. Bij de 2 noemde ik nog dat het wel een terechte notering in de lijst was. Ik zou voor het album van vandaag geen reden kunnen bedenken...
Bij het vorige album schreef ik al dat ik het een experimentele Bloc Party vond met extra elektronische invloeden. Nu is dat experimentele een soort Peter Gabriel geworden. En de elektronische invloeden zorgen soms wel voor een lekkere bombastische sfeer; de synth wordt als een dikke baslijn eroverheen gedrapeerd. Al is dat vnl bij het openingsnummer, wat blijkbaar een outlier is als ik de rest zo hoor. Dat is namelijk meer Arcade Fire-achtige muziek in, maar dan met de zang van Beck of Prince. Het is allemaal dus redelijk artsy-fartsy, maar ik vind het denk ik wel beter aan te horen dan dat andere album (als ik zo mijn eigen review lees, want ik heb er weinig actieve herinneringen aan). Het is alleen ook enigszins vermoeiend, het luistert niet echt lekker weg. Ik kan er een vergeetbare 3 voor geven, maar ik heb hetzelfde als bij het vorige album, het is me allemaal net iets te ongemakkelijk. Bovendien hadden ze het bij deze artiest bij 1 album moeten laten in de lijst. Het slaat werkelijk waar helemaal nergens op dat ze er 2x in staan. Ik rond het wederom af naar een 2.
didn't think much of this one. some interesting tidbits here and there but it just felt kinda average to me. there's some painfully outdated sounds, especially in the vocal performance. unfortunately outdated indie rock from this era isn't really charming. it just gives quirky millennial burger joint fave track: dlz
The best funky indie band, maybe the only good one. I had this when it came out and didn't really get it, it's much better than I remember.
It STILL gets better every time I listen to it.
It was fine, not my favorite album
Hard to like. Not worth hating.
Sometimes funky, in a good way. More times theatrical, in a campy way.
291/1001 TV On the Radio - Dear Science Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ I'd heard of TV On the Radio before, but not delved more into their stuff, so happy to have this come up today. There's a lot of different styles that kept me engaged, though sometimes a little too whiplashy. As I'm in a positive mood, this is a 3.5, so rounding up to a 4.
Had never heard of this artist an was surprised. I listened to this while fighting sleepiness and it was akin to that of visuals induced by thc. Some wild trippy visuals that the music magnified. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.
неплохой альбом достаточно разнообразный но слишком позитивный местами если отбросить в музыке эти мажорные мелодии (я не знаю как мне это правильно объяснить) и именно на ритме сосредоточиться, то вообще 5 звезд бы можно было поставить если бы он был на Яндекс музыке, то добавила бы себе
говно
я хз, мне в падлу чет писать, просто 1 балл поставлю
Sounded very Postal Service, and more recently, Honorary Astronaut. What a wonderful surprise.
I don't know this band, but I'm glad I do now!
Thought it was going to get a pass mark but there are a couple of truly terrible songs. Red Dress
Never heard of this. Quite pleasant
This is #day629 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… when I got my first TVOR record, which was like a forever ago, I was genuinely impressed by how much I liked it. Maybe because I'd never heard of the band before, and I liked that experimental edge. It turns out that the album eventually got dropped from the list. Sometimes I just don't get the logic of this list. Anyway, with Dear Science, I can kind of see where it's coming from, with its blend of art rock, post-punk, and touches of funk and soul, but… I just don't know. The music is fun, but is it something you have to hear before you die? Let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day630.
Me gustó, suena lindo y tranquilo. Es algo que siento que escucharía mi viejo. No se que tanto lo escucharía por cuenta propia pero sin duda esta bueno.
Me reee gustó el disco. A veces se parece a Coldplay.
Lowkey prismatic.
Handful of hits, handful of misses. It's ok but I dunno'. It's just not grabbing me. Dancing Choose, Red Dress and DLZ stand out.
Should be 3.5 (still ridiculous we can't rate 1/2 stars).
465/1089 - There's some cool instrumental ideas but nothing really catchy. There seems to be a lot of Radiohead influence but I think the thing that makes Radiohead work is the same thing that makes the Beatles and XTC work: the dynamic between an intuition-based songwriter and a highly-skilled technician. Yorke and Greenwood, Lennon/McCartney and Martin, Partridge/Moulding and Gregory all balance each-other out to make something special. Tl;dr I think you need the theory guy and the feelings guy for stuff like this and not just "vibes."
Sounds a little like a bad knock-off Scissor Sisters at times. So not so much do I like this.
Meh. Nothing here grabbed me, and the sound was all over the place.
it's nice. it was great background noise, but not really world changing
A little rap, a little indie, a Little Rock but not enough of any of that. Started strong, ended weak.
18/1001 Dear Science - TV On The Radio (2008) Having only heard 'DLZ' prior to this listen, my idea of this group and preconceived idea of this album was completely off. That said, having now listened to this project, I'm still unsure if any one box could contain everything this album is going for. It's like we're listening to every idea and draft they had being put into one album, and we're just lucky that the vast majority were good. So many times I thought "Oh, synth there? Oh, horns too? Strings, sure why not? Oh and this one is inspired by doowop?" which wasn't expected from a 50 minute indie rock album. The undeniable highlights are 'DLZ', 'Love Dog' and 'Halfway Home' - although the Bowie-inspired 'Crying' and mortality-focused 'Family Tree' bring something special. Something that tends to be true for most of my favourite albums is huge variety but a strong feeling of focus, and unfortunately the latter is lacking somewhat in this case; variety gives and takes, and it takes a bit too much for me here. I don't know how often I'll be coming back to this album, but it was definitely memorable and I thoroughly enjoyed it. ★★★★
This is perfectly fine but not really my type of music and not sure why it's on the list. I feel like there's not a lot interesting to say on it.
I found this album to be pretty decent. It was my first time listening to TV on the Radio. The first thing that stands out is the production. It features satisfying drum patterns across a range of styles, from alternative rock to EDM and even lo-fi. The experimentation mostly pays off and invites the listener on a pleasant journey that feels rewarding from the get-go. I loved "Love Dog" and really enjoyed "Crying" and "DLZ". Special shout-out to the outro of "Heroic Dose", which appears on the bonus track version of the album. The original album was so enjoyable that I couldn’t help but keep listening to more. That’s definitely a good sign.
Couldn’t tell you a thing about it just pure wall noise
Meh
Strangely, this sounds like the sound of TV on the Radio.
very edgy. i can see how someone might like this. not me unfortunately.
Super smooth
Whatever. This came and went without me really feeling anything
This is one of those records where everything is clearly in place and nothing quite lands. It announces itself as significant from the off - layered, deliberate, very sure that it has something to say. I kept waiting for the point where that confidence translated into something I could actually get hold of. It never really happened. The lyrics are the main issue. There’s a lot of elevated language, but it feels chosen rather than found. Phrases stack up, suggest meaning, then dissolve before they resolve into anything concrete. Reading them doesn’t help. If anything it makes the problem clearer - this is language doing an impression of depth rather than delivering it. There’s also a persistent mismatch between words and rhythm. Lines don’t sit naturally on the groove. You can hear them being manoeuvred into place, which gives the whole thing a faintly constructed feel. Instead of locking in, everything just continues. Musically, it’s competent throughout. The arrangements are tidy, the playing is solid, and there are occasional flashes - some of the horn work hints at something more modular and interesting. But those moments don’t develop. They register as texture rather than structure. Eight tracks in, something finally caught my ear. Even then it felt like a fairly safe song wearing a vaguely Kid A-adjacent electronic coat. Underneath, it’s still straightforward, and the sense of risk never really materialises. There’s a constant feeling of forward motion - a kind of vague marching somewhere - but no real destination. The album keeps implying that something is about to matter, and never quite cashes it in. That’s what turns it from merely unengaging into actively frustrating. I can see why it was well received at the time. It looks like an important record. It sounds like one. But on a full listen, it doesn’t give me enough to justify that status. For all the intent, it never establishes a clear centre of gravity. Fifty minutes later, I’m left with the sense of having heard something carefully made, broadly admired, and ultimately disposable.
4/10… modern rock / indie / *2008
First half is a snooze. Second is pretty good. I hate doing 3s but sometimes it fits.
Unexpected favourite, very blunt lyrics and catchy. Favourite Track: Family Tree
I don’t get it
I was hating this for the first couple of tracks but it slowly started to grow on me and by the time it got to Red Dress I was really enjoying it. There’s definitely a few tracks on here I will go back to but I don’t think it’s one I’m likely to go and listen to in full again. Top Track - DLZ
This album was super intriguing to me. I didn't think much of it until halfway through the first listen when I realised there was a lot more going on. Went for a second listen right after the first. It grips me. I don't know if it's really cohesive as an album but maybe having all those different sounds was the point. Some of those sounds were a miss, Stork & Owl is so 2008 it hurts, but after those two listens I could name every song. I feel like I'm having trouble understanding why I like this so much but I have to go with my heart.
I really did like quite a few songs, i would probably listen to again, but not the whole album really i wish everything wasnt a 3 all the time
I think the best way I can sum this up is it feels like Fifa music. Now that can either be a compliment or an insult. That's how this album feels. It has elements I like but then loses me immediately. As a whole album, no I didn't enjoy this. I've heard this style done better by other artists of the time and maybe that's why their songs remain in playlists you see for the decade. There are some songs that are good but nothing that sticks for me. The whole thing feels forgettable to listen to, but nothing I would stand up to turn off. Not quite 1 material. Also I hate the album cover and name it sucks.
I have never heard of them before. Quite groovy but the vocals are too often on the edge to annoying. 1,5
Me parece imposible que haya alguna persona con más de 10 neuronas que escuche esto
Interesting enough to keep my attention, and definitely some cool explorations, but it was just a little too erratic for my liking. I know they have other albums I've enjoyed more so 2.5 rounded down.
This list has way too many dance-rock-electronica hybrids. I think that LCD Sound System did a good job perfecting that while indie bands like this one here have something very annoying to them. This album can be all right enough for some and maybe I would've liked it more if the singers would've kept it down a notch.
Tough album. I've never heard of this band before but they were really cool. DLZ was my favorite and the album in general was very groovy. 7.3/10
kurde fajne
lyrics are fine, instruments too, vocals surely aren’t anything special but overall it’s listenable. A high 3
Enjoyed this one!
Very typical for the era. Reminds of Passion Pit in spots, Metronomy in others. Bold move opening an album chanting buh buh bump - already losing interest before we even begin. 2/5
Significantly better than the last album from these guys, but still not good. Too forced and too boring. 1.5/5.0: Bad
abysmal
Really enjoyed this one. Can definitely draw some similarities to Young Fathers, the rhythm and energy that flows throughout. Big fan of this. Favourites: Halfway Home Golden Age Shout Me Out DLZ
Decent album
This one really surprised me. It was completely new, I'd never heard of it or any of the songs. I really enjoyed this
Listenable entertainment
I feel I should have enjoyed this more than I did, perhaps another listen is required. While guitar-driven, I enjoyed the funky, afrobeat components, but it all felt a bit jumbled. File under listen again.
Coldplay without the whining. Enjoyed this.
Listening on a long car journey, which isn't ideal. Also not ideal that some of the album effects make the car sound like it's f*cked. Ideals aside, I don't know what to make of this even after a couple of spins. But I love the energy and variety, and think I'll keep listening. A benefit-of-the doubt-driven 3*
Decent - I'd listen again
Eminently forgettable
Pretty good new album
Each song has incredible variety. It feels like weather in the Midwest USA. The saying in that area is "If you don't like the weather, wait an hour". Well in a sense, that saying applies to this album as well. If you don't like the song, wait 3-4 minutes and you've got something completely different than what was just playing. I didn't hate any moment of this album, but it was pretty room temperature the whole way through. No particular song stood out to me, no song made me skip, no song had any lyrics or melodies that I can justify adding to my daily playlist. It's white bread with bologna and American cheese. It's inoffensive, universal, and unapologetically bland. If any album so far deserves a 5/10 it's this one.
Horns, Gabriel Halfway home Dancing choose
## Overview *Dear Science* represents TV On The Radio's commercial and artistic peak, becoming their best-selling album (reaching #12 on Billboard, selling over 250,000 copies) while maintaining their experimental edge . The title originated from a note producer David Andrew Sitek wrote in the studio—a plea for rationality during chaotic times . --- ## Lyrics & Themes ### Political Engagement The album emerged during the waning days of the Bush era, channeling frustration with American imperialism, surveillance state expansion, and racial injustice. "Red Dress" opens with Kyp Malone's searing yell: *"Hey jackboot, fuck your war!"* . The track intertwines personal malaise with political outrage, exploring how racism and militarism corrupt daily life. "Dancing Choose" attacks consumer media with biting satire: *"He's a newspaper man / And he gets his best ideas from a newspaper stand"* . The protagonist's confusion about his role in the system mirrors the album's broader anxiety about complicity. ### Existential & Social Themes "Crying" contains one of the album's most devastating verses referencing American foreign policy: *"Mary and David smoke dung in the trenches / While Zion's behavior never gets mentioned"* . Meanwhile, "Family Tree" explores the beauty and historical weight of interracial love, while "Love Dog" uses the metaphor of an anonymous, devoted stray to examine unrequited devotion . ### Hope Amid Chaos Despite the darkness, the album maintains utopian impulses. "Golden Age"—the album's most accessible moment—announces *"There's a Golden Age comin' round / Here it comes like a natural disaster,"* capturing hope that arrives through destruction rather than despite it . --- ## Music & Production ### Sonic Architecture David Andrew Sitek's production represents a significant evolution. Where previous albums could feel airless and suffocating, *Dear Science* achieves clarity without sacrificing density . Each track contains a distinctive motif—whether the Beach Boys-inspired "bah-bah-bah" chant on "Halfway Home," the deconstructed funk bassline of "Crying," or the brilliantly arranged horns on "Red Dress" . ### Genre Fusion The album seamlessly integrates: - **Post-punk** energy ("Dancing Choose") - **Funk and soul** ("Golden Age," "Red Dress") - **Electronic** textures throughout - **Jazz** horns and **prog-rock** complexity - **Art rock** experimentation Tunde Adebimpe's vocals serve as the binding force—simultaneously warm and towering, capable of delivering both political invective and tender crooning . ### Standout Tracks - **"Halfway Home"**: The Peter Gabriel-esque opener with its propulsive "ba-ba-ba" hook - **"Family Tree"**: A gorgeous, string-laden meditation on love across racial lines - **"DLZ"**: A slow-burning masterpiece later immortalized by its use in *Breaking Bad* - **"Lover's Day"**: A lusty, brass-filled closer that builds to a marching band climax --- ## Influence & Legacy *Dear Science* arrived at a cultural inflection point—the 2008 financial crisis, ongoing wars, and the Obama election. Pitchfork noted that a decade later, its themes of state surveillance, racism, and American imperialism felt eerily prescient, "like a cruel predictor of our current times" . The album influenced subsequent indie and art-rock acts, with comparisons drawn to Radiohead's *In Rainbows* (released the year prior) in terms of sequencing and stylistic range . However, TV On The Radio carved out territory distinctly their own—some critics argue they were overshadowed by Arcade Fire and The Killers despite being equally deserving of attention . --- ## Pros & Cons ### **Pros** | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Production Clarity** | Sitek's production breathes more than previous efforts while maintaining complexity | | **Accessibility** | More approachable than earlier work without sacrificing artistic integrity | | **Political Resonance** | Lyrics that address 2008's crises while remaining relevant years later | | **Vocal Performance** | Adebimpe and Malone deliver career-best singing | | **Structural Innovation** | Each song's unique motif creates coherence amid chaos | | **Emotional Range** | Successfully moves from rage to tenderness to hope | ### **Cons** | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Inconsistent Aggression** | Not all aggressive tracks maintain quality; "Red Dress" opens with lyrics some critics found "heavy-handed and embarrassing" | | **Mid-Album Lull** | Tracks like "Stork & Owl" and parts of "DLZ" have been described as "skip-button fodder" by some reviewers | | **Overwhelming Density** | The sheer variety of styles and layers can be exhausting—some listeners find it "too busy from start to finish" | | **Lyrical Opacity** | Some imagery (like the childbirth metaphor in "Halfway Home") doesn't immediately click | | **Mixing Issues** | Occasional moments where the wall of sound becomes overblown | | **Longevity Questions** | Some critics predicted it wouldn't achieve classic status like *OK Computer*—a prediction that has partially held | --- ## Verdict *Dear Science* captures a band at their most focused and accessible, translating complex political anxiety into danceable, emotionally resonant art-rock. While some tracks falter and the density occasionally overwhelms, the album succeeds as both a time capsule of 2008's crises and a continuingly relevant meditation on living ethically in a broken world. It's the sound of sanity maintained through chaos—exactly what the title promised.
I did college radio in the late 2010s and my station still had their old poster from the release of this album up on the wall of the studio when I was there, as well as one from some band called "Loney Dear". And yet, I don't think I ever listened to it! Now that I'm more interested in 00s indie, it was a good time to fill that gap, I guess. It's cool how they don't really sound like anything else I've ever heard, but I'm not sure that I actually enjoy them all that much outside of "Wolf Like Me", which isn't on this one. Probably better than Loney Dear though, at least.
None of these songs are better than “Wolf Like Me” but this was a very enjoyable album front to back. Feels like it’s best experienced as a whole.
Was kinda ready to not like this cus the album cover is so minimalist (read:boring), but I actually really liked it. Had some atmospheric energy, I heard lo fi hip hop beats to study to, Coldplay, and phil collins in there somewhere. Interesting stuff.
Science. It works! I’m not sure this album does?
Upon first listen I found it annoying. I decided to return to it 3 weeks later… still annoying.
uhhh not rlly my type..
28/03/2026 I've heard better and nothing really stood out. On to the next one. Spotify listeners: 1.5 million
Not totally average pop. Sometimes interesting.
Very nice music.
Family tree and lovers day were so gooood
album #17 Okay so I liked quite a few of the songs on this album, but I'm not 100% sure why it's on this list haha. I'm not opposed to it, and really loved 'Dancing Choose', and 'Lover's Day', but I'm not sure it constitutes an album that is necessary to listen to. It's of its time but not particularly influential or noteworthy to be deemed an album to listen to before death LOL! A solid indie album. Nothing particularly special about it, but I enjoyed listening to an album from a band I had never heard of before :D average track rating: 2.8 favourite track(s): dancing choose, lovers day least favourite track(s): red dress, golden age album rating: 3/5 number of albums left to review: 1,072 number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 8 albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 3 albums from the list I won't include on my list: 14
Some potential, but again vocals ruin the listening experience for me.
Meh mas nao meh tao mau que seja 2
They have a lot of really interesting things layered on top of each other that I never noticed before.
This is really good.
Not a fan but I do know of them. I may have even caught them at a festival. Not my type of indie rock but I respect them so much
I like this. Lot of influences coming through. I hear some Bowie and Radiohead and like it, also some Coldplay that I like less. Very listenable. Album is overlong, pushing up against feeling pretentious. Not sure it belongs on the list, better than average example of it's type, but not a must listen. Nice music for a chill bike ride, with a good consistent tempo and a few little bursts of energy to get you going. 3.5 stars or so. Rounding down because it's not as essential as the past few 4 star albums on my list. I will listen again though, higher on my personal replay list than most 3 star albums. Also right from my sweet spot era wise. Eh, talked myself into 4 stars I think.
This is just 2000’s indie rock and like yea it’s good it’s just that. I’m sure twenty one pilots heavily like this band.
The one thing that really drags down this album for me is the vocals. The way that he uses it in this album sounds quite flat, and it results in it sucking the life out of everything else. There are some interesting elements to this indie rock album, but after a while, it becomes just background sound. It's a shame, because I really liked their song "Happy Idiot" as a kid.
While I do wish TV on the Radio had stuck with the very intense and rejuvenating sounds of Return to Cookie Mountain, I am also perfectly fine with them going in a more accessible direction for their third project, Dear Science. This project feels more groovy than any of the band's past projects but still in the very strange and appealing way. I wouldn't call this a Pop record by any means but it is the closest the band has gotten to that kind of sound due to the accessible songwriting and very soft instrumentation compared to their more dreamy and noisy productions on previous albums. Even with this having much stronger critical praise I didn't find it to be significantly better than some of their previous work, yes it feels more polished but it also feels safer and a lot less willing to make risks and do something more noteworthy. Even with an album like Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes, one I enjoy less than this project, I feel it is somehow more memorable than this one despite the clear difference in quality. Dear Science is a cool project don't get me wrong, but it doesn't really bring as much interesting discussion or even notable songs to the table as some of TV on the Radio's previous hence why I don't have much to say here about it. It is good, but that is about it.
Sounds like all the bands of that era, depressed with a voice like if they had been kicked in the nuts. Its fine as background music but that's it. 2.5
Was interested by their first album but this didn't feel so fresh or creative
TV on the Radio is one band that did not enter my usual rotation of 2000s indie rock artists. In general, when they slow things down , they’re fantastic. The album starts out just ok, but really picks up steam with “Stork & Owl”. It’s hard to pick a favorite track, as there are many really great ones, but “Family Tree” and “Love Dog” were my big standouts. This album slid from a low 4/5 up to a near 5. Just one or two too many tracks I didn’t enjoy to warrant top marks. P.s. shoutout to that one scene in Breaking Bad that used “DLZ”, a great track. “Stay out of my territory.”
Pleasantly surprised by this - pretty ok indie rock, but nothing really exceptional. It was decent enough.
Another 2* Indie Rock album. It shouldn't be on the list, but Blind Melon should be. Specifically, their self-titled debut album. That would be a 4* because while it is an indie rock album at its core, it has a smash hit, is vastly superior musically, and has actual depth of lyrics.
Interesting album. Similarities between each of the tracks enough to keep it interesting but still a common feel to the sound. No real outstanding tracks but overall a good listen.
Great album. I really enjoyed the listen. Every song is good. Has that feel of the period and makes me think of other acts like Beck, The Strokes and others. Not exactly like them, but there’s a similarity. Well crafted, good delivery.
2.5/5