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 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.

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.

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 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

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

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 I'm 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. For this reason, I'm giving it a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day29.

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

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.

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 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 untertaining, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Good, but not as great as they'd become.

Always liked this, still sounds good 20 years on. Good album choice.

This is an album I might actually listen to! It's edgy and disconcerting, but I like it.

I really, really liked this. This is one of those bands that I overlooked when they first came out, but now I'm able to appreciate them. They are permanently going into my rotation.

4 - I like the sound and I have liked them in the past. I think it's maybe a bit toooooo rich? As in one or two songs are great individually but as an album I was waiting for it to end.

Pretty unusual album, I liked it. Fave Tracks: The Wrong Way, Poppy 3.9/5

From the onset, I didn't think this album had a terribly good dance to win with me.. Even before the website goofed up and allowed me to think about The Monkees today, seeing Wikipedia label this album as "dark wave," "experimental," "avant-pop..." "POST-PUNK..." Yeah, not a prayer I'd give it higher than 2 at most, far as I could see. I figured at best it'd just be a thing I'd hafta get out of the way before I got to what I actually wanted to do. Color me surprised, then, that I actually liked it a lot more than that. I'unno if I've explained this before, but for some context, whenever I see something labeled "experimental," I'm typically expecting, like... Y'know, noise and atonal nonsense, that I'm supposed to be impressed with because it's "art." Similar feelings go for post-punk — it wasn't my lowest rated genre for as long as it was for no reason, after all. It made me all the more surprised to actually hear convention in here. Beats, melodies, guitar and key parts... Stuff I could actually latch on to Sure, none of this would land on the Hot 100; it's too odd and minimal for that, but I was actually getting engaged in some of these songs. Someone else in my group compared it to early Gorillaz, and, honestly, I can hear it. Really, my biggest problem with the album is that the songs can be a bit too long. Even as much as I enjoyed them, I don't know if they generally do enough to really justify each song having an average length of, like, five minutes. I suppose the point might've been to lose yourself in the atmosphere — and it's not like that's something I can't accomplish — but for some reason here I wasn't really able to. I guess I just clicked with this album too late for that? I'unno. Either way, honestly, I'm feeling a 4 with this thing. I never would've guessed that's where I'd end up, and I might look back on this and think I was too generous, but for the right now, I really was just that pleasantly surprised. So, hey, good on TV On The Radio for that. Now — hey-hey, it's onto Monkee business! Woo!

Really gives me early Gorillaz vibes if they leaned more into rock than hip-hop. I dig it, so I’m giving 4.5 bumped down to 4.

This one took me several tracks for my brain to adjust to their sound, but once it did, I really enjoyed it. I liken it to The Decemberists, but with more experimental and punk/edgy influences.

9/10

Listened to this The Wrong Way and it had me back in my Dreams.

I didn't come up with this but, "catchy AND weird?? you son of a bitch I'm in." Halfway through the first song I thought "when are these guys coming to my hometown?". Pure alt record, could have come out in the 90s or yesterday. Good discovery.

As the Young Liars EP was just perfect, this album is a bit hard to rate. From memory: Return to Cookie Mountain is their best album and this is one is next. . score in 2004: 8/10 score in 2024: 8/10.

Kiinnostavalla tavalla erilainen. 4/5

I loved the first tracks but over the course of the album the songs got quieter which I did not like that much.

The debut from TV On The Radio is cool and all, but this might be the album pick on this list that boggles my mind the most. I'm not the biggest fan of the band, but I thought it was quite unanimously agreed that Return to Cookie Mountain and especially Dear Science are superior albums to their debut? Yes, 'Staring at the Sun' is great, but I just don't understand this choice at all. Unless, of course, one or two of the above mentioned albums are also included here. In which case I'll have to say that including more than one TV On The Radio album is also strange.

A bleak and dark debut focusing almost entirely on the bottom half of your speakers. It’s one of those rare albums on this list where I had to give it another listen, as I wasn’t quite ready for what hit me. Did I actually like? Was it simply too barren? Turns out I really dig it! Looking forward to revisiting Dear Science later on.

Different, in the best kind of way. I like Dear Science better, but this is a solid album with great lyrics, production, and composition, and its absolutely worth a listen. 4/5

One of the best experimental bands of the 90s-early 2000s honestly

Erg goed, hele originele arrangementen, af en toe net wat saai.

Decent early 2000's hipster rock

Very good album with a unique sound. Not quite sure how to categorize it as the sound is at once otherworldly while being accessible. My vinyl copy has the bonus ep with Staring at the Sun that brings it to another level. 4 stars

Sounds really interesting. Certainly worth more listens.

These guys are one of the big bands from that aughts era indie that really shaped my music tastes. I'll usually go with Cookie Mountain over this one but they're both bangers. This one definitely feels a bit more raw and dark.

The end of the album was a bit weak, but the first half was interesting enough to warrant another listen.

7/10. Was choosing between 6 and 7 early - then started thinking between 7 and 8 by the end of it. Enjoyed throughout.

Uniqueness and creativity on a list of tired classic rock. Staring at the Sun is a banger.

This album took me by surprise. I remember listening to Dear Science earlier when I got it for the album generator and having...mixed opinions. But this was genuinely really good. I liked the darkness, the soundscapes, the quirkiness.

Millennial hipster music but I kinda dig it. One of the two singers is a little whiney (particularly prominent right out of the gate on The Wrong Way), but overall there's a cool vibe through most of the songs. Main criticism is it suffers from the same thing as a lot of the genre - each song is a really cool riff or beat that they just extend into song length. Yeah, the riffs are cool and they build and sometimes ebb, but learn how to write a bridge or a chorus or something - just have the song go somewhere new once in a while! I liked the a capella approach in Ambulance, although it went a little long. Relatedly, the album has a demo of Staring at the Sun that's also a capella. I wonder if that's their writing approach and on Ambulance they just decided to keep it that way? Interesting approach if that's true. Favorite tracks: Staring at the Sun, Don't Love You, Wear You Out.

Was aware of this band, but had never really listened to them. I enjoyed this, they are trying to do their own thing - favourite track was Bomb Yourself. Will come back to them.

Was this meant to be released in 2004? Sounds straight from the 80's. Favourite Songs: The Wrong Way, Staring at the Sun, Dreams, King Eternal. Least Favourite Songs: Ambulance, Don't Love You.

Very hypnotic arrangements, beautifully distil the essence of the topics they talk about.

It starts out really strong with the first few songs. I really liked the addition of the saxophone. I also wasn't expecting doo-wop, but I liked it. A lot of the songs feel like they drone on, but in a good way. Favorites: "The Wrong Way, "Staring at the Sun", "Ambulance"

Fun, creative album.

Very enjoyable, I liked the vibe of it especially from a band I've never heard of prior to this

Interesting

Had I found this when I was 17 it would’ve been obsessed with it. A Side is way stronger than the B.

I've listened to Return to Cookie Mountain and Dear Science, both of which are fantastic albums. This, however, is a new one to me and I'm looking forward to the ride. Staring at the Sun is a cool song that showcases what I've come to expect of TV On The Radio well. Droning electronic-heavy instrumental underpinning Adepimpe's distinct vocal delivery. Ambulance is wild with the isolated vocal backing. Like a stripped down barbershop quartet. Kind of spooky, but pretty. Love the calm pocket groove on Bomb Yourself. While this isn't anywhere near the polish of the two other TV On the Radio albums I mentioned above, it is still fantastic and a great introduction to their sound. High 4 for me.

#500 Love the style of this with the low humming bass playing in the back of most of the songs. I am a sucker for when the bass in an album is very fore-front. The two singers harmonizing both with high pitched voices are a great balance to go along with the low toned instruments. Something about TV On the Radio really does it for me and I have really enjoyed both of their albums so far. Wasn't fully paying attention to the song titles to point out anything in particular, but the whole album flowed very nicely.

TV on the Radio picking up where we left off with some serious fuzz. Loving these about halfway through. Very eclectic and has great mix of electronica with rock. Fuzzzzzzzzzzzzz all over this album. Super high 4 and adding all TV on the Radio to my library.

Another unique sounding early aughts indie band. Could get a bit droney at times, but overall I liked it. Although it seemed more enjoyable with headphones than over a speaker.

A little more left field and minimalist then there more successful later works. Still golden.

A hard one to score as it seemed to start poorly but it was definitely growing on me & I suspect it will improve on a second listen so my 3 stars might prove to be harsh.

The sounds are all here but the songs don't hit like later TVOTR albums. Still a great release from 2004.

Grata sorpresa.

I had zero expectations going into this, which I honestly think is the best way to do it. And I’m glad because this was super interesting. Elements of jazz, rock, world music, a capella, and more. A variety of instruments, moods and arrangements make this an eclectic album full of surprises. Dark sounding, moody slow songs, faster but still dark songs. The overall mood of this album is pensive and dark. A lot to sink your teeth into. This really requires another dive. It clearly was an inspired project with a lot to understand and explore. I really enjoyed my listen. I need to do it again. Four stars, could see it becoming five. Standout Tracks: The Wrong Way, Dreams, Ambulance, Don’t Love You

Quirky album in the best way. Apparently our second from this band, and I'd personally say keep this one and nix the other one. They're both solid (I gave the other one a 4 star rating as well), but this one is dramatically more interesting. Very cool and strange stuff around every corner, I like that. Favorite tracks: The Wrong Way, King Eternal, Ambulance, You Could Be Love. Album art: Is that tail lights, made to look like lightning? I can make out a house, sort of. I love this, love looking at it. The lightning effect is awesome. 4/5

Very unique. There's a mix of acapella groups, beat boxing, Boyz II Men, jazz, and more traditional rock.

Would listen to this again.

TV On The Radio have such a cool sound. Their style feels like a very pure creative expression, as if they're not trying to imitate other genres or styles but rather using their instruments to make whatever sound is best for the song. The guitars mostly feel like alt-rock, the drums sometimes feel like rock but other times feel like dance/electronica, and there are a lot of interesting back-up vocals and harmonies. Some of the music is dark and brooding but a lot of it is uplifting and liberating. I get the impression that they were influenced by Radiohead but not exactly because they sound like Radiohead. They just have the same fearless spirit of invention.

Pretty good, I like dear science more tho

Boy is this album weird. The sound is really unlike any other I've heard. Like industrial electronic shoegaze? Lots of cool songs on here and I love the backing vocals. But man is it just so odd to my ears