How awesome is this album? A whole freakin' lot. I'm sort of shocked. I loved (LOVED) their last album "Fever To Tell" and their "Yeah Yeah Yeahs EP" but they have gone above and beyond what I could expect of them with "Show Your Bones".
While Karen O's madcap lunacy was wonderfully ecentric on "Fever" she's toned it down a bit here, but thankfully the rest of the album has been turned back up to 11. It's so LOUD, and that's the best part. Each song sounds so different but goes by the same principals. Keep it LOUD. Pitching it's tone between their EP and "Fever" they have reached the perfect level. It's the perfect album to allow them to reach a bigger audience, including those that make have been turned off by the hysterics of "Fever"
The songs this time have more typical song structures. There are plenty of options for Best Song of the album. While nothing beats my two fave YYY songs "Maps" (from "Fever") and "Our Time" (from their EP), there are so many great great songs.
Essentially the entire album is 5/5 worthy on iTunes. Many songs taking the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' belief that starting off loud isn't enough, they then build even more and louder.
"Gold Lion" is typical of this album. Standard guitars and drums mixed with Karen O's brilliant singing. One of the more pop moments on the album is still excellent nonetheless.
"Way Out" is very classy that eventually turns into a wall of sound with Karen's vocals screaming out from the other side. Just fucking unreal!
"Fancy" is probably my favourite and it really reminds me of down-and-dirty garage rock music. Sounds distorted yet perfect with Karen O stepping back to allow the music to just kill you.
"Phenomena" is, like "Gold Lion", a more pop-attuned track that nevertheless rocks. That chorus is a killer. Love that moment around the middle where the music stops and Karen O does some sort of wolf howl. And then it builds up again to that chorus which is so loud and awesome and then winds itself down. Awesome. Definitely a top 3.
"Honeybear" is, at the moment, my least favourite but that's like saying Gobe is my least favourite Arrested Development character. This one is definitely a grower, after a couple of listens it's very awesome. Love that near-country sounding guitar.
"Cheated Hearts" - most definitely in my top 3. Starts with a simple low guitar, then drums, and then Karen O at her stunning best. Taking pop and rock sensibilities and twisting it around around. Actually, THIS is probably my #1 right now on a third listen. It's a bit more laid back to the rest but their laid back is other group's masterpiece. Love the hands-in-the-air-swaying verses. Could probably be called this album's "Maps" if you want to. The power O puts into the vocals is just wonderful.
"Dudley" could also be this album's "Maps". More twisting of pop sounds into a rock lullaby. O's vocals are up front and centre here. In the middle everything stops before in grand style that good ol' wall of sound re-emerges. Fantastic.
"Mysteries" is possibly the catchiest of the songs. Standard YYYs with O's voice all over the place over crazy guitars and drums. All of that however it build up to a crazy-as-fuck finale. Bonkers and fucking LOUD - which is how I like it.
"The Sweets" is definitely the slowest track on the album. Sounds an awful lot like Tegan & Sara for a while. The moment those guitars and drums start to pick up the pace though in an almost military style beat they hit their stride and end the song in a fit of glory.
"Warrior" is like "Honeybear" for me. Not the best for the album, but still awesome. But like other tracks, it may start slower - but you can bet your bottom dollar that by the end of it the guitars and drums will be back.
the album closer "Turn Into" is also simply ace. Providing O with a chance to really show of her (quite excellent) pipes on a more traditionally styled track. There's even piano! This is a beautiful track that, while slower, still packs a punch. At the very end is picks up and turns into a monster before ending with a quiet guitar and O singing. Bliss.
While I'm tempted to just give it an A+ and be done, I'll give it an A for now and see how it matures. God, this album is brilliant. We already have a near-definitely #1 album of the year. Just excellent. Sophomore slump? Never. A
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