Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Editor's Review:

If Yeah Yeah Yeahs had tried to outdo 2003's Fever to Tell in terms of sexy, raucous energy, it would have ended up a disaster. Instead, they have built on the strength of songs from that release like "Y Control" and "Maps," opting for a more refined sound on Show Your Bones.

Make no mistake, the rock is still there, but spastic bursts have given way to measured layering and well-conceived song structures. The guitar is still unmistakably Nick Zinner's, but some of the attack has been traded for an equal amount of swagger. Also scaled back a bit are the screeches and moans from singer Karen O, with enough left in to achieve the same effect without being obnoxious. A highly welcome addition this time around is the various synthesizer sounds scattered throughout the album and a generally fuller sound.

The only problem with Show Your Bones is that at points it stops feeling as raw and impassioned as Fever to Tell. There are certain points where things dip a bit, and that can be unsettling coming from a band so well-known for being so unabashedly over-the-top. Those parts usually seem to come before a more intense rock-out though, leading me to believe it was possibly intentional.

As a whole, this is quite an impressive showing. It successfully avoids being a retread of their first album, while still retaining the unmistakable Yeah Yeah Yeahs soul in a sleeker, yet more complex package.

– Rob Reeves
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Record Label Interscope Released March 2006

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