Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes

Catchy AND weird?? You son of a bitch I'm in.

Fela kuti + ar Kane + pixies played by theatre kids suprisingly tiring listen

I listened to Dear Science about a year ago and was impressed with the accessibility of their music, with plenty of catchy songs to sing and dance to, and one of the strongest attempts at fusing funk rock with garage revival. Well, this one is far less accessible. In this earlier album, the vocals still remind me of Prince, but there's not much funky about it. The mood is overall very sinister, with dark synths and other eery instruments, like an atonal trumpet ("The Wrong Way"), wild flutes ("Wear You Out"), and a foreboding organ ("Don't Love You"). This record has no end to its innovation. Many tracks blend genres in a way that maintains a similar dark mood and atmosphere yet combines ideas for a song that you never thought could work. The first track ("The Wrong Way") straight away shoves all sorts of atonality and clashing instruments with some central melody that in some ways reminds me of the art rock work of Roxy Music. "Staring at the Sun", a re-recording of their first single from their Young Liars EP, and one of their most popular songs; follows a harsh drone (like the band Suicide). If the intro didn't push you away, this will grab your attention. "Dreams" is a typical post-punk revival track like what you would see on Interpol. No complaints, probably the most accessible track on the album. "King Eternal" is industrial rock on the surface. Could see this coming from a NiN record. "Poppy" blends beautiful a capella on top a very distressing, highly distorted noise riff. "Ambulance" is a minimalist doo-wop track with nothing more than lo-fi forest ambiance (and somehow the second most popular song). "Don't Love You" has a frail techno-theme going on that matches the old haunted mansion aesthetic that the organ gives off. "Bomb Yourself" is the most chaotic song on here, with weird effects coming from each speaker. If I had to describe it, it's probably a funk song thrown into an industrial filter with some folk instruments on top. "Wear You Out" is a loud and wild closer that gets increasingly more chaotic as it goes on, and it keeps going on and on until slowly dying off. Every track is memorable. The tracks are highly experimental and fun, but a lot of it does feel forced and clashes to not work as well as it could. It sounds fantastic but harsh at times. I could see them improving these songs to be grander or more accessible.

i can appreciate the weirdness and there's some glimmers of stuff here i like, but overall i just find it really grating. they obviously have talent and are clearly pulling on some good reference points but the final product just doesn't work for me. the a cappella shit is just the final nail in the coffin (if i never hear Ambulance again, it'll be too soon) only by the strength of Wear You Out does this crawl up to a 2

I originally was disappointed because the album was not going anywhere, but about 3 or 4 songs in I fell in love with this sound. Very dark, dreamy, and Drone like.

I fell in love with these guys with the "Young Liars" EP and rushed out to get this record when it was released. Though they went on to expand their sound on later albums, I still prefer the directness and purity of this earlier work. By leaving more to the imagination, it somehow makes the atmosphere richer. I love their use of electronic elements throughout, and their choices for distortion and tone are exquisite. This album is a great example of being dark and heavy while still retaining a real human beauty. Besides enjoying the tangled webs they weave with their arrangements, I think the thing that is most exciting about their sound is that it's truly centered around the human voice.

This was bad. It progressively got worse. It started out as indie music and then devolved into something worse. Stay away.

Really cool sonic landscape, but not my vibe

Some cool sounds, chiefly utilizing repetition and distorted textures to achieve a chilling atmosphere. It is a very well produced album, and to begin with it's quite good, but the vocals sound like an afterthought, the songs themselves aren't great and for a whole album, it wears rather thin. After reading some of the rave reviews it was, well, disappointing.

1. the uurong uuay - 0 2. zun - 0 3. dreamz - 0 4. king eternal - 0 5. ambulance - 0 6. poppy - 0 7. dont love you - 0 8. bomb yourzelf - 0 9. uuear you out - 0 10. could be love - 0

The bass tone on the opening track is wonderfully crunchy and the guitar occasionally plays a haunting clean tremolo. Staring at the Sun has the same crunchy bass tone as the opening track and I hope that continues. I like the melody and the dark, dreamy atmosphere. Dreams has a switching bass tone from fuzz to clean but it’s always very prominent in the mix which I like. I like the melody and atmosphere of this song, too. The instrumentation in the latter quarter-ish of the song is incredible. King Eternal bass riff holy Jesus. Love the droning, atmospheric synth. I have no clue what the lyrics are about. I like the brief drum n bass groove at the end. Not a fan of ambulance. Poppy has a great guitar riff. The riff in the middle of the song is also great. Don’t Love You has a nice groove. Bomb Yourself has good instrumentation. The lyrics are also politically conscious which is good. The latter half of the song is very experimental compared to the first half and is better in my opinion. Wear You Out has a groovy drum beat. Around 2:20 more instruments come in. It’s definitely building up to something. The lyrics end at 4:43. The instruments cut out one by one until the song ends, very unconventional but I like it.

Suena bien pero no es la gran cosa. Tiene temas lindos y otros horribles. Igualmente lo siento como un disco que si lo escuchas mucho te termina encantando.

Certainly alternative rock from the early 2000s, there's this sound you can pick up from it, but I like the addition of a sort of soul sound to it all, like if Lenny Kravitz started making music in this era instead. That being said, it is very repetitive, and almost none of the songs have a climax, it's usually the same song it was five minutes before with an extra voice and instrument or two. That isn't always true, but it certainly felt like it. Otherwise pretty alright, just feels like it should've done more.

I had heard this album once or twice before. I like it, it’s a nice blend of indie rock and experimental sounds

This album is massive and intimate simultaneously. Its raw and gorgeous. Ethereal at times and in your face the next song. I love the doubled vocals, the fuzzed out bass lines and lets not forget the horns. the tracks that build into epics take you on heroic journeys that eventually launch you into the stratosphere. A landmark album of the early 2000s that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire artists today.

Starts out startlingly strong. Right away I think I'm going to love this album, then quite quickly I thought no I'm going to hate this album, then I decided no, I love this album. Interesting, engaging, moody; a tour de force of original ideas without being out of reach. This content is what this list is for.

I didn't get into TV until a few years after this record, but this record could have come out in 1991. It is pure alternative. In fact they probably wrote a poem about Madonna. Wear You Out is the perfect end to the record, the bonus tracks spoil that a tiny bit.

Great album. These guys can make harmonies like nobody's business. I'm getting some Bobby McFerring vibes from this. Favorite song: Bomb Yourself or Ambulance. It's hard to decide.

This is #day28 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge and... I'm pleasantly surprised again by an entry on this list. I've heard only the band's name, never listening to a single song. I mean never. So I'm happy the stars aligned, and not only am I discovering TV On The Radio from their debut, but listening to it now, 20 years after it came out. Now, this is intricately weird music. And I like weird! A couple of other names come to mind while listening to TVOTR: Algiers and The Veldt. All three share one common core. Soul. But, while the first band blends it with industrial, darkwave, and hip-hop, the second, with shoegaze, TV On the Radio, with post-punk, noise, and all sorts of experimental sonic paraphernalia imaginable. That was really interesting. This is a strong 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day29.

At first I thought Dear Science was much superior but this album is so dense and original that it demands a second (or more) listening and no surprise it was much better the second time around. These guys have such a quirky and unique sound that it has to be acknowledged, kudos to them for pushing the envelope. I believe this is my final album on the 1,001 journey so I'm feeling a bit generous so I'm rounding this up to a 4.

Definitely among the weirder bits of 2000's indie rock, and I appreciate that. Maybe the wooshy theatrical sound will grow on me.

Imagine if a barbershop quartet got deep into Sonic Youth and early 00s Radiohead, and you have a rough idea of what this sounds like. It's interesting - I feel like it would reward further listens - though I didn't bother then so I don't know that I will now. It's music I have a lot of respect for, but probably wouldn't buy.

Exactly my cup of tea. Dark Bon Iver with more improvisational elements. Not surprised Bowie was a fan.

Delightfully weird, just what I didn’t know I was looking for

Hard to describe this one. It's got the dark, droning, soaring feeling Explosions or Godspeed, but a soulful barbershop quartet thing going on to. Production is excellent and the sound is unique. Never really gotten into this band. Always thought Dear Science was just okay, but this one hit me

I knew them by name but I never really listen to them. Oh boy this is good! I loved their blend of pop and experimental music, it's quirky, it's weird, it's entertaining, it has really nice voice harmonies, there is a good work on textures and atmospheres, some tracks make me want to dance. That's the kind of albums that makes me stay on this journey. texture atmosphere voice harmonies quirky weird

Shit, I’ve only ever really peripherally cared about TV On The Radio but I think I am going to have to change that. I saw them open for NIN along with Bauhaus back in 2006, but I think they’re something that I wouldn’t have appreciated as much back then and never really actively sought them out after that. This was a super cool album and I can sense the layers to be discovered with further listens! Such a great, experimental find… absolutely loved it.

Fantastic album! so much to love in each song! - 9/10

Excellent album - listened to it tons when it was released.

Really truly enjoyed this. Very different from most of the stuff on this list and felt like a true discovery of a band that I wish I'd know about a long time ago.

What a creative album ! It reminds me of the soundtrack of Swiss Army man, which is a masterpiece to me.

Really, really good. Very varied sound on the album. Really adventurous music styles and great songwriting. Would definitely recommend.

With Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes, TV on the Radio set a new standard and a high bar that kept getting increasingly cleared beforehand in the last age of indie rock before the complete corporate takeover, proving that black musicians can conjure up the same kind of mood shifting sounds as any other. Favorites: The Wrong Way, Staring at the Sun, Dreams, King Eternal, Ambulance, Poppy, Don't Love You, Bomb Yourself.

Quite interesting. such a variation of styles, some of it (the drums especially) remind me of massive attack/trip hop kind of thing. I quite like a lot of the singing, some of the lyrics are quite creative. Some songs could have gone much harder though. I'm not sure if I can even pick out a best (or worst song). Overall around 7/10

One of the guys in this band is from the town next to mine. Saw him in the A&P once or twice, back when A&P was still a thing. Otherwise, solid early aughts indie, not sure I’d include it in my list of 1001 albums, but TV on the Radio stands well above a lot of the indie of that era to me.

This is the kind of album I'm here for! Music by musicians, not frauds chasing moneybags. Loved how bizarre this was, obviously a passion project - will tune in again

2.5

Musically this was kinda cool but it’s pretty much ruined by the dumbass vocals

Inoffensive but uninspiring. In places, it was almost reminiscent of other work from the time, at a reach it was almost giving Bon Iver in places, except...without ANY of the feeling or musicality. There's loads of cool stuff from this era and once again we're served something inexplicable in its place.

I listened to this A LOT in 2004 (probably tied with Madvillainy for number of listens) so I have lots of fond memories of it. There was also a live set I found on the CBC website from this time period that I loved as well. I remember the crowd was trying to get them to play Mr Grieves and they wouldn’t. They also did a version of Wear You Out that I listened to over and over. Unfortunately, this is where they kinda peaked for me personally. I never got into the stuff that came afterwards as much as this.

I remember feeling like those albums was less accessible than Hello Science. But this didn't strike me as the case revisiting it today. TV on the Radio is one of those bands that sounds like no other: Walk of sound buzzed out guitars, thumping drums, brass horn blares, barbershop quartet backing vocals and a sing who can going from angelic highs to menacing growls midsentence. But, somehow, it all holds together.

Obožavam ovaj album

This album fascinated me, I dont know how to describe. It caught me off guard, and took me in from the beginning. Very cool 5/5

Love this band

Bassy and vocal heavy. Has very deep sound that feels really influential of early American jazz and more post-punk era sound. Really unique.

Well, it's weirder and more experimental than I expected, I'll give it that. I don't really know what I expected, I never listened to this band and know fucking nothing about them, because I figured it was just some throwaway 2000s hipster alt rock. And it is 2000s hipster alt rock, but I didn't expect how noisy and jazzy and post-punky (and not just in a Strokes way) it is. So, respect for that. The vocals are kind of annoying, they're doing that White Stripes style of vocals that I don't know how to describe other than it reminding me of Jack Black in School Of Rock, like annoying falsetto but also not really belting out or trying that hard to sing either, but it's fine. The band is great. Would've been even better with some cooler vocals, but... yeah this still rocks.

I was expecting Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes to be good but I'm still impressed. I've never heard of this album or this band prior to doing this project but i was still expecting it to be indie rock by going off this band's name. And my observation was pretty dead on. This really gives me vibes of David Bowie's Low with it's weirdness but still has a twinge of indie rock. And i love it for that, The music is wonderfully weird yet can still be beautiful and relaxing and i also really like the songs that had acapella in them. I also think that the vocals work well here even if they wouldn't work well every where. I can't think of a single complaint here, this album gets full marks. Best Song: Ambulance Worst Song: Don't Love You

One of my favorite albums of the early 2000’s. Cannot recommend highly enough!

great

Such a great find, enjoyed every bit of it

really liked this! def gonna listen to it more.

## In-Depth Review: TV On The Radio - *Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes* (2004) **Lyrics:** Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone deliver dense, poetic, and often abstract lyrics grappling with existential dread, societal decay, love, alienation, and fleeting hope. Themes of urban isolation ("The Wrong Way"), spiritual searching ("Wear You Out"), and political disillusionment ("Bomb Yourself") are rendered with visceral imagery ("Dreams are nothing more than violent movies") and raw vulnerability ("Could you be the one for me?" - "Ambulance"). The lyrics avoid easy answers, favoring evocative questions and unsettling observations. **Pros:** Intellectually stimulating, emotionally resonant, uniquely poetic. **Cons:** Can be intentionally obscure, demanding close attention. **Music:** A groundbreaking fusion of art-rock, post-punk, doo-wop, electronic experimentation, and soul. Jarring dissonance meets soaring harmonies. Taut, distorted basslines (Gerald Smith) and frantic, often unconventional drumming (Jaleel Bunton) provide a chaotic foundation. Screeching, feedback-laden guitars (Malone, David Sitek) clash with melancholy piano and synth textures. The defining element is the vocal interplay: Adebimpe's soulful baritone and Malone's ethereal falsetto weave complex harmonies, shifting from tender whispers to desperate shouts. Tracks range from the explosive punk energy of "Poppy" to the haunting a cappella of "Ambulance" and the hypnotic drone of "Wear You Out." **Pros:** Fiercely original, sonically adventurous, dynamic range. **Cons:** Deliberate abrasiveness can be challenging; rhythmic complexity occasionally feels disjointed. **Production (Dave Sitek):** Sitek's production is integral to the album's identity. It's raw, claustrophobic, and purposefully unpolished. He emphasizes texture and atmosphere: layers of distortion, found sounds, room ambience, and vocal treatments create a dense, often unsettling soundscape. The mix often buries traditional elements (like clear drum hits) to prioritize mood and vocal interplay. It sounds like the album was recorded in a decaying warehouse – which adds to its thematic power but sacrifices conventional clarity. **Pros:** Creates a unique, immersive atmosphere; perfectly suits the lyrical themes; bold aesthetic choices. **Cons:** Lo-fi aesthetic can sound muddy; lack of polish may alienate some listeners. **Themes:** A cohesive exploration of anxiety and searching within a fractured modern world: 1. **Desperate Youth:** Alienation, disillusionment, and the struggle for identity in a confusing society ("The Wrong Way," "Dreams"). 2. **Blood Thirsty Babes:** Violence, societal decay, and primal urges, both literal and metaphorical ("Poppy," "Bomb Yourself"). 3. **Fragile Hope & Connection:** Moments of profound tenderness, love, and spiritual yearning emerge as potential antidotes ("Ambulance," "Wear You Out," "Staring at the Sun"). It's an album deeply rooted in post-9/11 New York City angst, capturing a sense of pervasive unease and the desperate need for human connection amidst chaos. **Influence:** Profound. *Desperate Youth...* was a seismic event in the 2000s indie landscape. * **Revitalized Art-Rock:** Proved ambitious, genre-blending rock could be vital and critically acclaimed in the post-Strokes era. * **Vocal Harmony Innovation:** Their complex, soul-infused harmonies became highly influential. * **Production Aesthetic:** Sitek's raw, textured, atmospheric approach became a signature sound, impacting countless bands. * **Paved the Way:** Directly influenced the rise of bands like Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors, and the broader Brooklyn art-rock scene. Established TVOTR as major critical forces. **Pros:** 1. **Breathtaking Originality:** A truly unique sound blending disparate influences seamlessly. 2. **Emotional Depth & Power:** Lyrics and vocals convey raw vulnerability, anger, and hope intensely. 3. **Innovative Vocal Harmonies:** The interplay between Adebimpe and Malone is revolutionary. 4. **Cohesive Vision:** Music, lyrics, production, and themes form a powerful, unified statement. 5. **Atmospheric Production:** Sitek's soundscape perfectly complements the album's mood. 6. **Significant Influence:** Redefined possibilities for indie/art-rock in the 2000s. **Cons:** 1. **Deliberate Abrasiveness:** The distorted, chaotic sound and dissonance can be off-putting or exhausting for some. 2. **Lo-Fi Production:** The murky, claustrophobic mix sacrifices clarity, which some listeners dislike. 3. **Lyrical Obscurity:** The abstract, poetic lyrics demand effort and can feel inaccessible. 4. **Pacing:** The intense density and lack of conventional hooks can make it a challenging, demanding listen; momentum dips slightly mid-album (e.g., between "Wear You Out" and "Bomb Yourself"). 5. **Not Always "Enjoyable":** Prioritizes emotional impact and artistic statement over easy listening or broad appeal. **Verdict:** *Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes* is a landmark debut – a fearless, challenging, and emotionally potent masterpiece of 21st-century art-rock. Its raw power, sonic innovation, and thematic depth remain potent. While its deliberate abrasiveness and lo-fi aesthetic present barriers, the rewards for engaging with its complexity are immense. It's an essential, influential album that redefined its era's musical boundaries. Not for the faint of heart, but utterly compelling for those willing to meet its demands.

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This is the second album I've heard from them on this list, and I like it even more than I liked the first one. Really interesting and creative, good harmonies, good lyrics, each song is unique. I just really like the sound of these guys.

I don't know what the other reviewers are talking about who say that this album is too "weird". I love this band and album. TV on the Radio emerged from the early 2000s New York music scene, which also gave us the likes of The Strokes, Bloc Party, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, among others. As someone who was around at that time, I can say that they fit perfectly into that time and place. Formed by the incredible David Sitek (the producer who helped Yeah Yeah Yeahs achieve their fame) with vocalists Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone, they put together an incredible debut. The vocal harmonies are nothing groundbreaking, but work so incredibly well with this style of indie rock. You can really appreciate this on tracks like "Ambulance" and "Staring at the Sun" (the demo version does this even better). Maybe I just have a soft spot for these guys, having seen them play in Brooklyn's Prospect Park back in the day. But I'll always love this album.

Really interesting alt indie album. Really unique sound, nice listen. Really enjoyable overall.

Very, very cool.

I really really liked this.

One of the greatest albums I’ve ever heard

TV On The Radio! Yay! Oh man, I haven't listened to this album in... *checks last.fm stats* ...five whole weeks! Gosh, it's been such a long time since late February. This time I've got my tortoiseshell cat trying to stick her tail in my eye, so it's still technically a new experience, right? Anyway. My biggest disappointment is knowing that there's no more TV On The Radio left for me to review in this project. However, Tunde Adebimpe is releasing his first solo album in a couple of weeks, so I still have something to look forward to!

And I will be your one more time If you will be my one last chance

Essential listening in the early Noughties (or Aughts, however you want to call that era). Crossing musical bridges you didn't know existed and setting new standards for indie/art rock.

This band is its own thing soulful post punk insanity. Love it.

Really, really good.

Legendary album and so innovative. Great sounds, unexpected lyrics, vocals on point. This is one of the truly great ones.

When you begin an album with two verses like these, you're in for a ride ... Wake up in a magic nigga movie With the bright lights pointed at me As a metaphor Teachin' folks the score About patience, understanding, agape babe And sweet sweet amour When I realized where I was Did I stend up and testify Oh, fist up signify Or did I show off my soft shoe Maybe teach 'em a boogaloo Busy playing the whore I was not aware of their first album, 'Ok Calculator' until I saw this great overview of the band. Check it out if you get a chance ... https://youtu.be/lhlRHOxMNys Also, the Tiny Desk Concert will put you in a great mood ... https://www.npr.org/2024/11/26/g-s1-35036/tv-on-the-radio-tiny-desk-concert

One of the best indie albums from the 2000s. Changed they way I viewed and played music

Fantastic

Loved this. So much texture and interest

I'd heard "Staring at the Sun" on an Adam Freeland mix, but the rest of this was new to me. They're just so unique and this album is timeless. It's the aggression of rock with the instrumentation of jazz and all these searing harmonies. A band I should have paid more attention to at the time.

I used to think that this album was the weakest in TV On The Radio's collection. However, after giving it a few listens over the past day, I realized that I hadn't given it the time it deserved. From the opening track 'The Wrong Way,' through 'Staring At The Sun' to the magnificent 'Dreams', the album takes you on a textured dark journey through various sounds and genres, including acapella, industrial, indie, funk, progressive rock, and gospel, all anchored by deep, dark bass layers. It's an album that really opened up a whole new world and broadened my musical horizons when I first heard it, and I'm only now able to truly appreciate it.

Did this Album change my life? No. Did I have a good time? Absolutely! Is this the bare minimum to get 4-5 stars in this list? For me sadly yes.

Rousing tunes very enjoyable

Not only am I familiar with TV on the Radio as a post-punk and art-rock outfit, but I've already heard "Staring at the Sun" from their first EP Young Liars that shows up again here on this debut album. Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes works effectively because the group took their dark and atonal sound and transformed it into a cohesive and melodically arranged set of tunes. It might take a bit to get going on the first minute of the opening track "The Wrong Way", but once the drums kick in, the band settles into their weird sonic pocket. There's a comforting feeling from Tunde Adebimpe's laid-back vocal delivery, which made the acapella track "Ambulance" and the third verse of "Poppy" personal highlights. Pairing that with the droning guitars, Martin Perna's saxophone work and minimalist drums resulted in an eclectic and hypnotic style, culminating in the crescendoing closer "Wear You Out" with the added flutes. This was an amazing debut from TV on the Radio. It's worth checking out if you're curious.

This was a two listen one for me. I just could not latch onto the music the first time. But with more focus on the second listen I was rewarded. This album is dark, deep, and somehow also upbeat. It's also very experimental which is something I can really appreciate. This is hovering somewhere between a 4 and 5 star for me. I'll bump it up to a 5 though because that last song as the outro (without the bonus tracks) was crazy.

I always dismissed this band because of the name. I have to say I was incorrect with my judgements. I'm on my 3rd listen and there are lots of strong tracks. The space left between the notes creates a great groove. The vocals are outstanding, it's like dueling Princes. Quality art rock.

TV On The Radio is a band I've dabbled with in the past and certainly a band that I'd like to get to know better. I see there's another album on this list that I haven't got to yet so I might give this the benefit of the doubt and bump it up to a 5. Fave: Staring at the Sun is great but there's so much more here to be uncovered.

Huh, I gave "Dear Science" only 3 stars and really struggled to connect with it. This album, on the other hand, immediately hits the spot. I guess I played it a few times in the late 2000's so the familiarity probably helps. Gonna revisit "Dear Science" to give it another chance, I think. Fave tracks - "Staring at the Sun" is an obvious choice - dig all the a capella biz on "Ambulance" too!

man TVOTR have one of the coolest original sounds on the planet freakin love these guys

I just really like it

polar opposite of the lcd album i gave a 1 star to..

very cool album, really enjoyed it a lot. Want to listen some more.

Never a bad time for TOTR.

Literally never heard of these guys in my life, but it’s like… very *very* good type of indie, got some good alt rock flavor of the time

In the words of Monty Burns, (sort of), I don't know much about music, but I know what I hate...and I don't hate this. The album definitely has a darker vibe to it and i think it could be quite a polarising album. Some of it sounds like David Bowie, but not quite. It's an adventurous kind of album. Definitely worth a listen

7/10

Merkwürdig

Und schon wieder so toll :) hab zweimal versucht, mich mit der Band zu befassen, aber war schnell wieder abgelenkt, bevor ich hätte reinkommen können. Das Album ist atmosphärisch richtig stark und kreativ - entlässt mich sehr glücklich :)

Very cool album with a surprisingly unique sound. The jazz elements and the incredibly growly bass tone were highlights of the sound! The a cappella doo-wop type stuff was cool for one song, but its reoccurrence midway through the next song was superfluous, and unfortunately that was enough to throw the rating off from 9/10 to just 8 for me. Still 4 stars, though!

I like this album. I think Dreams was one of the few TVOTR songs I knew. It's a good track, and so is Staring at the Sun. But with every listen I find myself getting more into other tracks. There's something about the groove and vocals that reminds me of Beck.

Not their best album, but still pretty cool. Standout songs: Staring at the Sun Ambulance Wear you Out

Not as aggressive as I expected but a good listen and one that I’ll revisit

Diverse and tremendous sound, but I feel just a touch let down by their acapella efforts, not the cleanest vocally.

I would give it a 3.75. I love tv on the radio.

This one stretches out quite a bit, I think this one could be leaner. I like TVOTR, especially their high energy stuff, the layered vocals are so cool. Closer to a 3.5

should listen to more of them

Loved this, will be exploring more of their catalogue

A stunning debut that feels both alien and intimate, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes announced TV on the Radio as one of the most imaginative bands of the 2000s. The album hums with static and soul: a mix of art rock, gospel harmonies, and fuzzy electronica that shouldn’t work together but somehow does. “Staring at the Sun” hits like a signal through interference, shimmering with longing and defiance. “Dreams” expands that energy into something almost cinematic, like it is all pulse and atmosphere. Even the quieter moments, like “Blind”, feel dense with emotion and experimentation. There’s a rough magic to this album, a sense of artists unafraid to collide beauty with noise, melody with abstraction. It’s messy, hypnotic, and full of heart - the sound of a band inventing their own frequency.

Not gunna lie, the acapella goes hard on this album

||I think when it was just like low fi whining I was very meh, when it transitioned to like experimental vocal harmonies and arrangements I got very on board||