Reviews (page 2 of 6)
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
This was a fun listen. Had never heard of this group before. Staring at the Sun made me stop what I was doing and just be impressed and vibe out for a minute.
Nice
I really enjoyed this. The playing is fairly simple but they show a lot of restraint in how and when they add layers, resulting in a some great grooves. The vocals are definitely very late 90s/early 2000s but, personally, I'm into that.
I'm not sure it is a 5 but I loved this. Best new to me album I can remember hearing for a long time. Paul told me to check them out a year ago but I'm lazy. Sorry, Paul. 4.5
Este tipo de rocksito, que no conocía, es como pa' tenerlo en un CD y cuando sea viejito ponerlo a gente y decirle: así sonaba el buen rock cuando estaba joven.
It's pretty good, but there are better TV on the Radio albums. It's not a 4, really, but it's definitely not a 3
It’s good, it’s cool! I don’t have a lot to say.
Si la memoria no me falla hoy miércoles, esta banda ya ha aparecido en éste reto. Como sea, nos sumergimos en el debut de TV On The Radio, quienes escuché por primera vez en un Guitar Hero/Rock Band. Entre un rock/blues sucio y algunas canciones más tranquilas pero igualmentes colgadas, con voces a lo gospel (en el sentido de buscar un estado de trance, de espiritualidad, desde las voces múltiples), es un gran comienzo para esta banda. Gracias y nos vemos mañana.
Not the kind of rock album I expected from the early 00s but I enjoyed listening to it!
This was wild. Very interesting and experimental. I really appreciate the fearlessness of their style. Not exactly radio ready. But some of this has got to be thrilling live.
electrificante
Love me some TV On The Radio, but oddly this is my first listen to this album and I went into it skeptical from reading other's reviews of this album... It's good, REALLY good, but only 4.5 stars good.
solid 4. this was a discovery for me. certainly lands in the intent of this collection. i may not return to it often, but i have a new appreciation for it
Liked this. Not every track hit me, but overall it’s pretty good.
This is exactly why I like this list. I’d never heard of this group before, and their sound is not ordinary. While I didn't care for every track and won't be putting them on repeat, it was a great discovery. Interestingly, I caught a lot of familiar elements - hard to say who influenced whom - and overall, it was a pleasant listening experience. A strong four stars.
ill swallow anything if its covered in sufficiently fuzzy guitars
cool stuff
Me pareció excelente, me gustó bastante, lo escuché de nuevo
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑, maybe even 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 (rounded up for emotional impact) For as much as I love TV on the Radio, I haven't listened to a full album of theirs save for their latest, Seeds, so this is as good a place to start as any. Incredible sound on this one, but it would've ranked higher if there were more individual standout songs, I think. "Staring at the Sun" could be a top 100 song for me, and is most certainly in my top 1001 songs, so it's a lot of pressure, but few songs felt like something I'd listen to separately, if that makes sense. Still a really fascinating atmosphere (I miss the moodiness of early TVOTR) and I will be listening again. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing
This got tiresome as it progressed. I really liked the first half, though. Extra points because it is new to me and I found it interesting.
Actually really enjoyable - actually because it was a bit unexpected. Will be listening again.
Decent
Really enjoyed this but idk what art rock is as a genre
Not the TV on the Radio album I would advise you start with. Genuinely miss the days where a band like this could just get picked up by a record label who wanted to take the chance because I assure you the best I'd yet to come! Thank you Touch and Go records for taking the chance on these guys. I think the investment paid off.
I love this album.
I've tried to listen to this album three times and I had a whole review written but I closed my browser before I could finish the last few songs...I'm not starting over again. I feel kind of mixed about this album but I think it either gets better as it goes on or the style grows on you. Don't Love You is a highlight. Upon review, I liked it.
When white theater kids decide to play rock and roll, you get Arcade Fire. When black theater kids decide to play rock and roll, you get this. This wins.
I had to put a bit more effort into this one. There are no catchy songs or hooks, a falsetto that sometimes puts my skin on edge and accapella sections that sometimes bring The Muppets to mind. It's unlike anything I've ever heard before and after one listen I was prepared to pass it off as a bad experience and move onto the next one. But there is something rather beautiful and thrilling about some of the songs. Dreams was the first one to get under my skin, building up it's tension in such an unassuming way. Don't Love You delivers it's honesty in a straightforward, yet heart breaking way and there is a beauty to the bonus track, You Could Be Love. I'm glad i put the effort in, but I can't go the full 5 stars for something that I had to work so hard to firstly tolerate, and finally enjoy. 4☆ for my first exposure to TV On The Radio.
Love these guys — was unfamiliar with this debut album. Quite liked it.
Fun- this isn’t my favorite record of theirs- but it’s good!
Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes leaves a strong impression. Its rough, garage-like texture stands out, and the sound is far from conventional. The Wrong Way is my favorite, combining a gritty edge with slightly unusual sonic elements. Rather than following typical rock structures, the album creates a swirling, almost hypnotic atmosphere. At times, it even recalls the sound of Young Fathers, with a similar sense of rhythm and texture.
Yes please.
Was interesting
Really liked the drone and loop aspects of this
I liked this a lot. There is something very impromptu sounding about a lot of the vocal tracks that gives this record a really cool live feel to it. Sometimes reminds me of Pere Ubu. 4/5
Quirky but also very listenable. I enjoyed this.
I remember TV on the radio as a kid for their appearance on The Colbert Report and not much else. I remember TV on the Radio as an adult for the past five or more years because their song, "Golden Age" (not on this album) was played by Phish in live concerts more times than TV on the Radio has ever practiced the song by this point. 0 expectations or a clue going into this. 159 albums in, and I think Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes is probably the weirdest album for me to rank yet. Certainly not the weirdest music I've heard, but for me to take in. Easier to write about it track by track. The Wrong Way is an okay start to the album, kicks in the opening seconds the right way. No strong opinion about Staring at the Sun. Dreams took a couple minutes for it to grow on me, and highlights the interesting falsetto singing that is kind of divisive for me in the sense I can either enjoy it or prefer something else. I'll give TV on the Radio all the credit in the world for trying to sound different in the 2000s: one of the most homogeneous decades for popular music since the 40s. 22 years later, it still stands out from other 2004 artists and albums that more or less closely aligned with a genre strongly, TV on the Radio sounds like a proper mixture of genres but put in a blender. Wikipedia says darkwave (for a couple songs, sure), avant-pop (the vocals yeah) and post punk, a genre best fitted for "idk it sounds kinda minimalist like punk but more abstract". King Eternal sounds like it's 2000s for sure, but better executed than the cliches of indie music of the time. Ambulance and Poppy are probably my least favorite tracks on the album, because they exemplifies a softer sound and the type of falsetto vocals I don't like to hear. You Could Be Love, the bonus track, fits this to an egregious degree. The album does end on a nice 1-2-3 of Don't Love You, Bomb Yourself (is it about Final Fantasy 7?), and Wear You Out. I don't think I've heard an album in a while that made me feel quite mixed about it as a whole. Some songs I can really vibe too, and others I can really do without. The middle ground exists in a few songs like Dreams or Staring At The Sun. I usually prefer liking specific songs and putting them on a bigass shuffle playlist for when I'm out and about touching grass away from the big compooter screen. That's where Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes is saved for me in the rankings: I don't really think the sum of its parts deserves a spot on its list (Dear Science is probably fine as the sole representative, but it hasn't shown up for me yet), but the songs and the unique structure of the album give it a compelling counter argument. When the record is upbeat, it's great. When it's not, it suffers for me. I tend to be a generous ranker for this site because it's filled with lots of negativity bias, so that's what gives this a 4 instead of a 3.
You could be forgiven for being skeptical of the idea that there might be anything even slightly new-sounding about rock music in 2004, and yet here we are, with this noisy, punky, and yet hypermodern-sounding collection. Not everything works - some of the lyrics are "young" as in immature rather than just "young" as in idealistic - but all the ingredients are here for something great. And "Staring at the Sun" is a worthy addition to the trip-hop canon (which I initally misspelled as "trip-hope" and that's entirely appropriate).
This was dope. Been meaning to check this one out.
fucking with this hard!!!
I really liked this album's sultry tracks. Especially "wear you out"
Really unique sound, well produced and very creative. Definitely a few tracks I’d come back to.
This really shouldn't work and I kinda expect to hate it if I re-listen to this one day but it caught me in the right mood today. Delightfully weird in a way that just worked for me for some reason. 7/10
I see why it is on the list but not something I’d listen to much again
This is the kind of weird stuff that grows on you. Fun
See this is weird without being TOO weird. I actually love Acapella music so I really liked that song. It feels like they're trying new things without it feeling all over the place! I liked it! But I don't think I'd listen to it on my own again. I didn't even really mind the voice, which is surprising for me.
Cool vibes, not an every day fit
More like Radio on the TV. Lets the imagination fill in its own blanks. Enjoyed the difference.
¡Vaya sorpresa ese disco y este grupo!
I like it
le pongo esto porque no merece un 2 enserio
Начало было хорошим, но под конец песни скатились, по ощущениям будто последние три демки, а не только последняя, из-за этого 6/10
A grower but great
This might be the nostalgia talking, but I love this album and every song on it. I heard "Staring at the Sun" late at night on MTV2 when I was 16 and I was so excited to hear something that didn't sound like the terrible mainstream rock music of the time or the bland, generic indie rock of the time. I went out and bought the CD as soon as I could and fell in love with it. I didn't know anyone else at the time who like this band and they felt like a hidden gem. Little music at that time was this weird, funky, and thoughtful. I couldn't imagine how this band wrote these songs and put them together. I expected my interest in this music to wane over time (as I've heard TVOTR placed in a zillion movies and TV shows since then) but it still has the same effect on me.
Hopes were at an all time low when I saw another alt/art-rock album in this little run that I'm on, but this on caught my attention right from the start and actually kept things interesting the whole time. Was it always working? No, maybe not, but I respect the experimental nature of what they're doing. Ultimately I found more of what I prefer here than in any of the Radiohead albums, not that I should be drawing a direct comparison between the two, but there's clear overlap here. For a debut album, it really feels like TV On The Radio didn't pull any punches and put out exactly what they wanted to, a cappella vocals, crunchy guitars, even a dribbling of early 2000s electronica. It's still not my genre of choice, but it kept my attention the whole time which is more than I can say for others of its kind in this list. Highlight: Staring at the Sun Lowlight: Don't Love You Surprise Hit: Wear You Out
Fascinating songwriting. The harmonies go in places you don’t expect and all mixed with some fuzzed up guitar.
I love TVOTR. This is my least favourite TVOTR album. It still does loads of interesting stuff, including the a-capella Ambulance. And Staring at the Sun is eternally brillaint. But Cookie Mountain and Dear Science are superior.
i can’t believe i’ve never listened to a TV On The Radio album before this because every song I do know from them I quite enjoy. This was nice, gonna add their other albums to my to-listen list
The dark distortion of the bass on the first track sets the scene for the album. It get a bit weird but overall a good listen
Lacking standouts and a bit unsure but 7/10
I LOVED this thing. A swanky opening song had my ears perked up a bit. This song basically dunks on Kings Of Leon’s entire discography. “Ambulance” was strikingly catchy with its acapella arrangement, slightly reminding me of the material on Hawaii Part 2 by Musical Miracle. “Dont Love You” was so assertive and hypnotic. This whole project has so much character bleeding through its cracks, and I think this song is the best example of that. Even the bonus songs were good! “You Could Be Love” is fighting for my favorite song on the album. How haunting! I really wanted to give this a 5/5. I listened to it back to back times. Ultimately, at this very moment, it falls just short of perfection. But I’m hoping the edit ratings feature is around when I complete the last 400 albums I have left to go, because this could be a true 5/5 on revisit
Great Album honestly - the cover especially
Really fun to revisit but more of a precursor to their stronger work but an interesting touch stone as the band developed
Good album
I only know of TV On The Radio through this project, not from real life (as it were), so that makes me wonder about their relevance. That said, both of their albums I've listened to have been interesting and worthwhile. I guess, part of why I started this in the first place.
I'm lame, so I prefer Return To Cookie Mountain. This is still good though. I guess I can round a 3.5 up to a 4.
Creo que no existe otro disco que radicalice tanto mi opinión sobre las canciones. Tiene canciones que amo desesperadamente y otras que repudio con toda mi alma. Creo que eso hace que no sea aburrido y soso así que 👌
Sort of surprised that it's this one and not "Return to Cookie Mountain," or at least that it's not on the list. At the time, and for maybe 3 or 4 years afterwards, "Return to Cookie Mountain" (along with Arcade Fire's "Funeral") was treated like an earth-shattering event in music. And, to be fair, I get it, particularly with regard to "Wolf Like Me", which is probably a Top 10 rock song this century. But this isn't about that album! This is about this album! This album is super fucking weird, but I like it! A lot of the sort of scuzzy, thumping beats with arpeggios and such layered over it really work for me, but I can definitely see it being off-putting to some. Similarly, the sort of haunting harmonies, acapella bits, and so forth work for me because it's the kind of creepy I can dig. Again, that's just me. Tunde is a great singer, but he's weird! They're just so weird! "Staring at the Sun" is a masterwork. "Poppy" and "Ambulance" are great. Everything else is very pleasant (to me, on the surface it's probably unpleasant) but I'm not over the moon about it.
Ahhh. What a unique sound, and a singular voice for so many years. Tunde’s solo album was one of my favorites of 2025.
When I started listening and reading the reviews I was all set for this to be a 2 on the grounds of cacophony and reviewers’ pretentiousness, but on listening some more I am sufficiently intrigued to give this a 4 so I come back to it when I’ve finished the project and forgotten it exists. 3.5
I think I like the other one better but this is still good
Really good
Return to Cookie Mountain blows this one out of the water. That said, aside from the opening track which meanders a bit much for my tate, there isn't a whole lot to gripe about on this one either. A super strong debut in what might be indie rock's apex era before succumbing to it's own smug self importance. This record is explorative and artistic, breaking new ground on several tracks. Low key classic.
Didn't know this was an art rock group, so I'm suddenly interested where I wasn't before. This was cool. I would need to hear again probably a few times to decide where I would put this but for now it's a 4
Yes, its an album of the indie persuasion, but here's a shocker: I actually don't mind this one! One reason for this, probably, is that I actually like the vocals of co-lead vocalists Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone. Both their voices are rich and soulful, and harmonise off each other with ease. They're not the same generic and wussy vocals you'd normally hear from this genre. Another reason is that the music and lyrics actually travel to interesting places and try to challenge you. The driving distortion of the guitar and bass lines, the inventiveness of the drum programming and loops and the etherial, reflective lyrics combine to create a sound that, while obviously owing to the popular New York indie sound of the time, also dabbles in dark wave and post-punk. So yeah, I'm pleasantly suprised by 'Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes'. TV On the Radio certainly has enough soul and vision to break the mould of the highly generic scene they emerged from, and given this is their debut album, this is a pretty impressive achievement. Best songs: The Wrong Way, Staring at the Sun, King Eternal, Poppy
Enjoyed this alot. Poppy and Staring At The Sun especially. I imagine will get better with additional plays. The kind of thing i was hoping for from this project
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 solid stuff. It's a little rough around the edges for me to give it a 5, even though I like quite a bit of it, but that's okay. I already know Dear Science is/will be a 5. Good debut!
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.
This is a pretty fascinating album. I suppose I'd call it post-punk, but it covers a lot of genres... Some jazz, some doo-wop, some noise rock... Honestly don't think there's much, if anything, that sounds quite like this. Definitely more of a vibes album than a song album (Staring At the Sun being a strong exception). It's definitely at least a 4, not sure if it's a 5 for me though. Leaning harsh today 🤷
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||
I can appreciate this. It's got this experimental side, just starting off with the dirty guitars and an assortment of winds. What. I'm happy I've been introduced. This reminds me a lot of the Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group, but what I appreciate about the ORLG experience is the vocalists are chosen based on how their voices carry with the music, and I don't always love the way these vocals work with this sound. Maybe I'll get around it with time, because I love a lot of bands with vocalists that don't mesh with me, and I'm definitely gonna be listening to this again. 3.8/5
This is another band that is loved by people whose music taste I respect, but I just never tried them out. This album was really good, enjoyed the experimental nature of it and was surprised that it was from 2004. Will def check out more
This is exciting music. Unfortunately, their live performance in Berlin this year was really bad.
i adore tv on the radio
Sean and I went to see these guys a few weeks ago and it was one of the better concerts I’ve been to in the last few years. I’d thought they were nerdy hipsters but the frontman really put on a show. Of recent albums we’ve heard, I hear a lot of similarities to the pixies and Siouxie Sioux this time through, mixing melody with dissonance with a sort of coldness that draws you in at times but distances at others. Big beats and heavy bass give the atonal noise the structure it needs, though it gets a little repetitive over the course of a full album. Dreams, poppy and staring at the sun are highlights. Between 3 and 4 but bumping them up for being the best and longest lasting of the NY hipster era and for rocking hard live.
3.5
This is tough and cool and different and interesting, song after song. One wasn't ready for this when it came out in early aughts (from one's Brooklyn neighbor, as it happens) but man has it aged well. Not sure it shoulda been exed but Dear Science is a superior album. These cats (seems appropriate to call them such) were determined to do it differently and succeed. Adebimpe's voice is certainly unique, too.
Just a damn good album. The production is incredibly 2004 though.
Never heard this before. Perhaps unsurprisingly I liked the second jammier half of this album a lot more than the first half. When they just let the music breath it was a lot easier for me to find my way in.
Other worldly.
On first listen I was absolutely floored by this album. It was a great, experimental, rock, gospel type of crossover. On subsequent listens I realized that the second half of the album (Poppy onward) is really just OK. Came out on top though. 3.8/5 - 4/5
Cool album. Enjoyed the moody, gritty vibe and vocals. The more I listened to it the more I liked it. Favorites: Staring at the Sun, Poppy
I really enjoyed this, I’d never heard of the band before I will explore more of their albums
Hace MUCHO que no escuchaba este álbum. A priori pensaba ponerle 3 estrellas. Siempre lo vi como inferior a Return to Cookie mountain y Dear Science, mis favoritos de la banda. Pero después lo volví a escuchar y nah, son todos temazos. Está bueno esto de revisitar discos que hace mucho que no escuchaba. Dear Science (y lo que hicieron después) son trabajos más catchy que retienen un poco de la locura que la tenían; Return parece el mix perfecto entre melodía y locura, pero este disco lo recordaba como demasiado experimental. Bobadas: el disco mola. La canción que recordaba del disco es el que, creo, fue el single, Staring at the Sun (que es una regrabación; el tema ya estaba en el EP que habían sacado uno o dos años antes), pero hay varios otros que ahora estoy redescubriendo. Escuchen Poppy, por Dios, una amalgama rarísima pero maravillosa entre unos coros a capella, una percusión africana y una guitarra drone que distorsiona como loca: la combinación de estas cosas parecería a priori una porquería pero no lo es: "es un TEMAZO" decreta Luis XIV. Y yo coincido con él. Otro es Wear You Out, la canción más larga del disco, un temazo que arranca siendo un temazo lento pero con un patrón rítmico bastante inusual, y es una de esas canciones que son lentas pero que sabés, olés, intuís que va a venir un in crescendo, y el in crescendo viene y "es increíble" dice Iván el Terrible mientras toca la balalaika, y yo coincido. Este temazo tiene una de las mejores apariciones de instrumentos de viento (saxofones y flautas) del disco. El otro que tiene unos vientos que me hacen caer del culo es el primer tema "The Wrong Way", otra canción del disco que recordaba. Es rarísimo este tema pero está buenísimo. Es una especie de mezcla entre Roxy Music y Radiohead. Espectacular. "Dreams" es otro temazo, una especie de dance punk atípico. Con "Staring at the Sun" es la otra que tiene alguna vibra de sencillo del disco. Y "Ambulance" también me gusta mucho. Sí me parece que el disco se queda sin gas para el final: Don't Love You y Bomb Yourself se asemejan a ese recuerdo que tenía de la banda. Tienen sus cosas, eh. Bomb Yourself por ejemplo tiene patrones de batería y guitarra atrevidos que aparecen y desaparecen sin pedir permiso. Pero no me convencen como canciones, sino que los considero más bien experimentos. En fin, cuatro estrellas.
Wow. Second try for TV on the Radio. This time it clicked, I gave the songs the time to develop and it was amazing. A wild mixture of Indie, Soul, Post-Rock, A Capella...you name it. It goes together so well. Fav: Dreams
I had never heard of this outfit before. Loved this.
Holy mother of Scott Walker and the 7 heavenly Bjorks... an indie rock album that doesn't gargle balls, but gargles melodies instead! Sign me the fuck up, and keep the engine running!
I know the song Wolf Like Me (not on this album) but beyond that, I was mostly unfamiliar with this band. Pretty interesting stuff. One of the singers has a voice similar to Peter Gabriel. Anyway, I could see me checking out more TV On the Radio in the future. 3.5/5 #170
Never really listened to them but I should have, they're pretty cool Will I listen to again: 91%
Вообще интересно, что-то необычное, смесь жанров
Started slow keeps getting better
Messy, disjointed, bold, visionary, all the sides of the same coin. It's a unique blend of post-punk and soulful electronica, a raw and worthwhile listen.
Другий альбом гурту тут. Цей сподобався набагато більше. Мені здається, Young Fathers багато слухали цей гурт. Класні гармонії вокальні фальцетом. Йому, можливо, трохи не вистачає хітів, десь пісні трохи перевантажені хронометражем. Але зараз не виникає питань "чому тут є цей альбом"
I’ve been a fan of this album since it came out. I own it on multiple formats. How did I NEVER notice the “Babes” in the title??!? I always thought “Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty” was such a cool title…. What a disappointing day this has been.
enjoyable but forgettable
Like an eclectic underground concert.
Full disclosure, I like TVOTR and this is a great album, but I'm not sure if I believe it should be on this list. It would also appear that the authors of the official list agree as they've removed it to make way for something else. I'm giving it a 4 out of 5 because of my personal enjoyment of this album, but it would probably be a 3 in the context of this list.
Feel like TVOTR are heavily underrated. Great album with some leftfield sounds and Staring at the Sun is an all timer.
Tv on the radio is one of those peripheral bands for me. I know *of* them and have heard songs on playlists, but never sat through full albums. I like it a lot. 2000s alternative is one of my fav genres. Moody and catchy. Staring At the Sun and Ambulance were my favorite tracks off this.
Received this album and checked out Wikipedia. OK… seemed to leave a pretty small footprint on the world. I wasn’t very hopeful at this point. (1001 and I don’t always agree on deep cuts.) However…. I really enjoyed the sound and the groove of this album. It was a pleasant surprise. Not sure what else to say.
TV on the Radio has a unique sound. Funky and future-forward.
I didn’t get into this in 2004, but, gosh, I should’ve. What a distinct, fresh sound. Experimental. Listenable from beginning to end, but the album starts off really strong with “The Wrong Way” and “Staring at the Sun.” I loved/appreciated so many of the lyrics—even on these first listens (e.g., in Ambulance, “I will be your one more time if you will be my one last chance”). Highly recommended.
Never listened to them but they are quite cool! Not fitting in any category but lot of groove and nice melodies.
Seems like the kind of music cool people listen to. I also quite enjoyed it to be fair. Not sure how I'd describe it but experimental indie pop?
Oh this is good. Interesting, innovative, listenable, and a bit of brass in the opening track.
I absolutely love the dark, droning soundscapes they create; the fuzzed-out bass; the layered vocals; a clear horn or other instruments peeking through; dance beats on a track like Dreams. Just masterful atmosphere and intriguing, original song structures. I listened to this a couple times when it came out and liked it, then forgot about this band. I get to make up for it now—and, to my delight, see them here in Oakland in two months. Very strong four stars.
An incredibly creative amalgam of funk, soul, post punk, doo wop, and noise rock - this proved to be one of the most original and exciting discoveries I’ve run across on this list. Not everything completely works, but this is an endlessly fascinating album that rewards multiple listens.
Good listening album.
Love TV on the Radio, their eclectic mix of sounds which I’m sure borrow from others on the 1001 list in terms of influences, but they then manage to make something very much their own out of it…
While Science and remaining light are better albums, TV's output is consistently amazing. This is a great band that never really clicked with a larger audience. It's too bad. Bands like this should be at the top of charts instead of what's there.
Este álbum me sorprendió. Tiene elementos de música pop, pero sin que se sienta como música comercial. Las voces, los sonidos que utilizaron, la duración de los temas. Tienen el equilibrio justo de música popular y música experimental. La voz en "You Could Be Love" es sobresaliente. Realmente lo disfruté.
I'd only heard Wolf Like Me before and I liked, but didn't love it. This album is pretty good, it's quite varied, so I didn't get bored, which I think I would have if all the songs were like Wolf Like Me. I gave it a couple of goes and I'd happily listen to it again. It didn't hit the heights it needed to to get a 5 from me however. Good, but not great.
Couple of amazing songs. Rest was ok
I adore TV on the Radio for contributing to and continuing art/math rock. "Staring at the Sun" is definitely the highlight here.
I've enjoyed Tunde Adebimpe's solo work, but have never (knowingly) listened to TV On The Radio before. I enjoyed it and am glad to have had that opportunity.
I've never been a fan of TV on the Radio, but this is probably their album I would like the most, as it sounds the most like Radiohead and a lot of indie music inspired by the experimentation of Radiohead at that time. Overall, I'd maybe give it a 3.5 for my personal taste, but I understand a lot of people do like this band, and they have had a big impact, making several more albums after this.
Dad- 6 Mom- 5 Mike- 8.5 Lori- 8 Michael- 8 Miles- 8 Cole- 8.5 Avg- 7.43
Enjoyed this.
3.5/5
Good stuff.
Sehr nice stimmung! Minimalistisch, aber interessant genug, um einen dabeizuhalteb
A certain angularity of form, laid down in a cool space that asks for ears. You have mine.
I enjoyed this. I've liked singles I've heard before. I enjoyed the last album by them that we did. Was pretty good to drive to. Overall I think there was only one track that I felt an urge to skip on my third listen. Might incorporate it into a regular driving option. Like last time I hear some Prince influence and wonder if this could oddly be a gateway for me to enjoy Prince more.
Not the band I was expecting. Really enjoyed this.
I really enjoyed this album, though I don’t think it’s 5 stars. I listened to it twice and always enjoy listening to this band’s music.
Woah unexpected but great album pick! perfect album ushering in the experimental glory days of indie rock in the 2000's.
Really love their future work. This one is good, but next ones are really great
These guys are pretty good. This album is fine
4.2 So good. I liked the other album by these guys but this is even better. If you ignore the bonus tracks on the album there's only one weak track (bomb yourself), the rest are range from good to amazing, which is a pretty incredible run. Might have to absorb more from these guys now.
This was absolutely not what I was expecting but what a nice surprise! I was expecting very much 00's NY scene indie rock but TVOTR must have been some of the most inventive to come out of that whole time
Якщо згадувати гурти, що «грались» з гаражним роком та пост панком на початку нульових, намагаючись відродити сиру енергійність першого, але в той самий момент, зберегти вишуканість та «розумність» другого - більшість назве The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem чи Arctic Monkeys. Натомість про TV on the Radio часто забувають, не дивлячись на самобутність їх дебютного альбому. Хоча цьому альбому і присутня певна «багатошаровість», здебільшого він все одно лишається доволі мінімалістичним та навіть трохи монотонним, але при цьому, ні в якому разі, не нудним. Основна його ціль - це створення гіпнотичного ефекту, занурення слухача у свого роду «естетичний транс». Це йому доволі добре вдається, і не останню роль в цьому грають, так звані «вокальні мелодії». Саме вокальні партії слугують тут основним «будівельним матеріалом» та вимальовують текстури, а усе інше ніби створено, аби їх підкреслити. І якщо згадувати якийсь інший відомий гурт, що використовував подібний підхід - на думку одразу спадають Cocteau Twins. Проте не дивлячись на схожий підхід, сама вокальна подача тут інша, та більше схожа на манеру Peter Gabriel. Так, ця робота доволі експериментальна, але водночас - вона примудряється залишатися стильною та слухається напрочуд легко - у кращих традиціях попмузики, через що, зрештою, і здобула популярність.
I don't know why I haven't heard of this album before!! This band is brand new to me.
Awesome
Pretty interesting music, good variety. I'm into it.
A shock out of the gate moment of brilliance.
Kickass.
hat mir gut gefallen irgendwie idk
Very creative use of synths and vocals. Gosh, someone give Tunde a hug - this is about as bleak a record the 2000s had to offer.
Fantastic debut record really is a vibe. My only issue is some of the songs seem to be all build and need to just explode but sadly never do. Still in rotation and I just got the anniversary edition so it's not like those things bother me in the end
Gear: Focalman Cleardara Artwork: 🚘🛣️🔌 Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🗺️👥💥 Rating: 📻📻📻📻/5
The second half was worse than the first half. I liked the other album more than this. It certainly is unique.
Starts really strong, but fades across the length of the record. An interesting sound and a good listen 👍
Good, not one of my favorites by them. Maybe needs another listen
Woooooow. What's this???? New acquisition
I think this would be 5 without that singer. Otherwise pretty innovative and impressive
This album still sounds so fresh. Vaguely psychedelic with no concern for stylistic limitations, it’s too melodic to be industrial but far too sparse to be shoegaze or synthpop. It really sounds like nothing else.
Love the vocal style and funky vibes
A nice surprise. Some creativity on display here. Lots of interesting sounds - a capella loops, fuzz bass, distortion. I'll be revisiting this one.
This one starts right off the bat with cryptic lyrics including a snarling take about the offensive cliché of so-called "magic n*ggers" in Hollywood movies, nicely setting up the universe of TV On The Radio -- a deconstruction of indie rock, post-punk, kraut/electronica and soul music tropes that actually sounded very close to Young Fathers long before the Scottish band picked up that particular thread. Just like them, and probably more famously, the New York City act saw its members having diverse backgrounds infuse transcendent African and African American influences to their elated vocals, soulfully performed by Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone. The result is very good, generally speaking, with quite a cohesive first side (thanks to abrasive opener "The Wrong Way", catchy "Staring At The Sun", driven "Dreams" and the subtle ode to sexual desire "King Eternal"). As good as that side is, a welcome change of pace occurs with "Ambulance" right in the middle of the tracklist -- good lord, what a love song, mostly supported by Lynchian Acapella Doo-wop vocals and a killer emotional chorus, something along the lines of "I will be your ambulance if you will be my accident". The rest of the album is a little hit-or-miss, but long triply closer "Wear You Out" easily reaches the heights of side one again. Minus point for the production and the overall sound of the album, though -- so paper-thin it unfortunately takes away the potential pleasure those compositions can offer to less delicate ears than mine. It's an issue that the band's own Dave Sitek would solve himself later by partly handling the production side of later LPs (maybe out of disappointment from this one?). Oh, and *Return To Cookie Mountain* is probably a better candidate for a list such as this anyway (better sound, as I said, but also more iconic songs and more memorable vocal lines -- "Wolf Like Me" is a gem, for instance). Not that *Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes* doesn't have its own assets, mind you. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4. 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3.5) Number of albums left to review: around thirty or twenty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book. Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 464 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 281 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 336
Dear Science will always be my goto TVOTR record, but this is a STRONG debut, especially as far as debuts go, for an experimental band like them, seems they found a voice early
8/10
Not for me. Listened to the first two songs and the consistent static sound throughout the songs isn’t working.
Solid album with a lot of good tracks. A good listen and listened again the next day.
I can't think how to articulate why at the moment, but I really liked this quite a bit.
The album started extremely strong, but lost me a little in the second half. Standout Tracks: - Staring at the Sun - Dreams
a potential 5 but ultimately a well deserved 4
Decent
This was wild. Very interesting and experimental. I really appreciate the fearlessness of their style. Not exactly radio ready. But some of this has got to be thrilling live.
Good music, terrible album name. Except for "You Could Be Love." That was bad.
I really like this album. Loved it when I first heard it 20 years ago. Staring at the Sun is a great song.
This was an interesting follow up to the White Denim album in that it took the experimental inclinations a step further and into stranger territory. My enthusiasm waned as the album played, it was challenging at times, but I appreciated the bold songwriting and arrangements and ideas. It may have dipped to a 3.5, but the exciting parts buoyed this to a 4.
Loved this!
Yeah, nice. Like a mild alt-j
I always want to like TV on the Radio a little more than I actually do. There’s just a bit too much that’s off-kilter or discordant. But it’s not like I dislike them. I like them quite a lot. But I think of them as a 5 until I actually try to listen to a full album. Then I get put off briefly multiple times through the listen, and get pulled back in just as many times with some brilliant stuff. While this debut album is a low 4, it’s “Return to Cookie Mountain” that actually gets closest to a 5.
The distortion on the opening track reminds me of The White Stripes. These guys bring a fresh, eclectic soundscape.
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
Big fan and really enjoyed this album. Staring at the Sun is one of my favorite TV On The Radio songs. 4.5 stars
3.5
Las últimas canciones se me hacen un poco aburridas, por lo demás bien, sorprendente.
I liked the bass lines and a capella. Especially the bass a capella
Fantastically weird
April 26, 2024 HL: "Dreams", "Staring at the Sun", "Ambulance", "Poppy" I heard through the grapevine this album was a bit shoegazey. Did not disappoint. Another great offering from a band I didn't know I liked until doing this album-a-day six hundred odd times. The loop pedal is the unsung hero here. "Ambulance" is a prime example, though I wasn't sure what to make of it at first: the simple doo-wop/soul background sounds eerie & industrial the way it's looped.
This has the vibes of an essential alternative alternative album. Very artsy and good bass. Some tracks are a bit too long.
Awesome
Two bonus tracks made me look at the whole album completely different. Also I didn't think dum-duming a beat could be so engaging for a listener. It's very specific music, but I quite like it.
I enjoy me some TV On the Radio. Crazy how different they can sound while still sounding mainstream. Really enjoy the main dudes voice and all the harmonies. Also quite wild that they don’t seem to follow typical song structures. I don’t think I recall hearing a chorus or hook. 3.75 getting rounded up.
I enjoyed this much more than I thought I might. Always interesting, for sure.
After an initial listen I was struck by some of the vocal layering on this album. The music is post-punk inspired going into grunge with some electronic and chamber pop influences thrown in. There is enough variation on this album to stay interesting but I think I need another listen through to give an accurate rating.
экспериментально, интересно, очень круто!
Я очень люблю их трек Happy Idiot из альбома 2014 года Здесь звук более лоу фай и не такой отточенный, но альбом сам по себе интересный очень интересный (бонус треки с завыванием немного не вписались, но и спасибо что они бонусные) В общем, очень хорошие эксперименты, прям крепко экспериментально. Напоминает первые альбомы arcade fire по настроению Алкоальбом: коктейль с хересом
Шумно, грязно, но прикольно. Какие-то интерпольные вайбы есть и жой дивижновые.
Нй вайбс с быстрым давящим движением
4/5. I dig the experimentation and the art rock, normally it sounds pretentious but this one sounds fun and curious seeing if sounds work. Although not all songs work, the album in general has a vibe of youthful experience. Not sure how old these guys are but it's unique for sure. It's a well made album with a sense of dread and creativity that doesn't become as pretentious as it should be.
It sounded so different to what was on the radio at the time!
I haven't listened to this album for ages, but it's actually one of the CDs in my collection. I enjoyed rediscovering it.
I don’t really like TV on the Radio as a whole, so was pleasantly surprised by this album.
I enjoyed it.
I liked this album a lot. It's much nicer than I thought it was possible based on the description and Wikipedia page. So many styles are encapsulated inside the same album that it becomes hard to analyze them thoroughly. It's better than the "Dear Science" album from the band (released later, but that I got on the 1001 list before).
An interesting listen. Not a band I'd listened to before, but intriguing enough for me to want to hear more of their music. 3.5 rounded up to 4.
Man... Pixies by theater kids is such a perfect description of this band. It's a fun sound to lean into but the album gets long by the end. For as much variation as they have in instrumentation and genre, the whole thing drones and eventually becomes a samey soup. I did enjoy it more than I expected though. Looking forward to Dear Scientist which I think is also on this list.
Big fan of Dear Science, though I see that's to come, and this is no longer in the book. Beyond that record I've only dipped my toe into TV's catalogue. First track definitely intriguing, it takes me a minute or so to recognise beyond that thudding baseline and the stabs of brass that there's no actual guitar here. I enjoyed Dreams way of hooking you in a low key way on its journey. They're everywhere. Best track so far. The a capella Ambulance brings a change of pace for sure, I'm not 100% sure it's welcome, first song that seems to drag a bit at 5 minutes of dum dum dum dum.. Would have been absolutely fine with 3 minutes of that cheers lads. Wait. What are you doing? More dum de dum in the next track! Stop this! Stop this madness now. I enjoyed the way the song builds back up from that, but I'm not keen on the abruptness of it in the first place. Then it almost turns into U2. Could do better. This is generally far more minimalist than Dear Science, but there's still plenty of hooks so I wouldn't call it inaccessible. Guitars are often present, but never at the forefront, adding to a musical collage. I like their sound. I am pleased they dropped the dum de dum for the far less intrusive ba ba ba ba ba. If I'm honest, I don't think this really picks back up after it crashed to a halt half way through. "let's break it down" they sing ironically in the last track proper.
I had always liked them, then 2 summers ago my cousin blasted it on the beach in Michigan as my gummy was hitting perfect. Did a deep dive after that. Good stuff. You can certainly hear New York in it. Not nearly as good as My Morning Jacket for that kind of thing, but then again who is?
Bit rougher than their peak albums, but still great
In a good way, this album is all over the place. Some of the songs don’t hit as hard as I thought it would, but the album is somewhat lush in good parts. The opener “The Wrong Way” starts off with an unexpected expletive but slowly drifts into a saxophone and bass collision with drums that slowly progress in somewhat intensity. Despite that, “Bomb Yourself” is just political. It’s not too political, but it is political. I guess this 20 year old album deserves an 82.2% or 4.11/5. Favs: “Dreams”, “Staring At The Sun” Least Fav: “Bomb Yourself”
TV On the Radio are probably my favorite of the early 2000s NYC rock bands. This album is great but is almost completely overshadowed by the follow up. I will be shocked and sad if that one isn’t on the list.
I’ve never really listened to TV on the Radio. It was weird. It hit me juuuuuust right.
One of my favorite bands but not my favorite album. Definitely a good album though. Underrated
It's actually crazy how much I hated this album based on the first couple of tracks. I was distracted listening to it and it was getting only part of my attention - but wow. I'm so glad I didn't give up on it. This is a brilliant album and one of my favourites so far. I can't believe how much my opinion changed in so little time.
Love the production on this. Instrumentation is awesome, fun sounds with a combo of harsh low synthy guitar and more dreamy other sounds. Not sure how well these songs sound as singles, but they feel great in an album context. Not sure I could listen outside of that context however. Light 4 stars.
Creative, seethingly intense, with an undercurrent of darkness. Really fantastic work. Fave Songs: Dreams, Staring at the Sun, Poppy, The Wrong Way, Ambulance, Don't Love You
I joined the 1001 hoping to get exposure to bands like this. I though their Dear Science album was better but this one is also good
The start, with the saxophone followed by distorted bass and vocals sends a message that this isn’t going to be an ordinary album. The songs are dark and minimalist, a blend of progressive soul, Tom Waits/Doctor John plodding rhythms, underground electronic with almost non-existent drums. Right from their debut, TV on the Radio decided they weren’t going to be conventional. I’m on the fence about the acapella, doo-woppy songs, but I’ll give them kudos for trying it out. Nearly a 5 for me.
Ne ressemble à rien d’autre. J’aime beaucoup l’utilisation des voix et les tentatives de créer de l’originalité.
On ne peut pas dire que cet album est monotone. Ça mélange beaucoup d'influences et les sons qu'on entend sont très variés. Il faudrait que je réécoute car je n'était pas assez concentré pour complètement apprécié ce qui jouait, mais clairement ils ont servi d'influence pour beaucoup de bands expérimentaux qui ont suivi. 8/10
Dug this, weird and confident
I was introduced to TOTR my sophomore year of college by the indie girl I was dating. I was playing in grindcore bands at the time so this was a huge departure for me, but instantly fell in love with this album. Droning, dreamy, danceable, nostalgic.
It's brooding and pensive, with many interesting effects – e.g., the harmonies on "Poppy" – that build slowly and deliberately, with a resonant meaningfulness seeming to accrue or agglomerate. Thus, it rewards patient listening. It's not quite Radiohead or Sonic Youth or The National, but certainly it's authentically Brooklyn-y and distinct. Plus, it sounds quite durable, like it will hold up quite well. Dear Science is a better record, however, a bit more accessible (if not quite danceable) and also a bit warmer and varied in tone.