TV on the Radio
The Brooklyn-based group TV on the Radio mixes post-punk, electronic and other atmoshperic elements in such a creative way that it only makes sense that its core duo, vocalist Tunde Adebimpe and multi-instrumentalist/producer David Andrew Sitek, are both visual artists as well as musicians. Adebimpe is a graduate of NYU's film school and specializes in stop-motion animation, which his Brothers Quay-like video for the Yeah Yeah Yeah's single Pin demonstrates amply. He is also a painter, as is Sitek, who also produced the Yeah Yeah Yeah's Machine EP and their full-length Fever to Tell. The duo met when Sitek moved into the building where Adebimpe had a loft; each of them had been recording music on their own, but realized their sounds would work well together. Sitek's brother Jason, began playing drums and other instruments with the pair during their recording sessions, which resulted in a self-titled, 24-track CD released by the Brooklyn Milk imprint. Jason Sitek left the band for a short time due to other musical commitments but returned to the band when they recorded their Touch & Go debut, the Young Liars EP. After the EP was completed, TV on the Radio added guitarist/vocalist Kyp Malone to their fold. Young Liars, which also features the Yeah Yeah Yeah's Brian Chase and Nick Zinner, was released in summer 2003 to critical acclaim, coinciding with their gigs opening for the Fall. Their first full-length release, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes arrived in spring 2004. The band remained busy for the rest of the year, embarking on their own tours as well as dates with the Faint and the Pixies. That fall, they released the New Health Rock EP and won the 2004 Shortlist Prize. In 2005, the band kept busy with touring and returned to Sitek's Stay Gold studio to work on their second album. They also made an MP3 criticizing President George W. Bush, "Dry Drunk Emperor, available on their website. TV on the Radio signed with 4AD for European distribution of their albums and moved to Interscope in the U.S. In summer 2006 they resurfaced with Return to Cookie Mountain, a more polished but still searching collection of songs that featured David Bowie on backing vocals. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
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more: TV on the Radio features
videos
- Play MP3.com Interview (Exclusive)MP3.com caught up with Kyp Malone and Gerard Smith of TV on the Radio at the Fillmore West in San...Windows Media Player Required
- Play MethodIf there's one thing that everybody can agree on, it's that "there is hardly a method you know."Windows Media Player Required
- Play TV on the Radio -Dance OffWhat's the next step once the records done? Dance off, of course.Windows Media Player Required
- Play Break Down City"TV on the Radio" falls victim to a power hungry President. Sound familiar?Windows Media Player Required
- Play LyricsReturn to Cookie Mountain's lyrics are hot like fire... literally.Windows Media Player Required
- Play Pass It OnStevie Condis ratio is defleecing it's new alvin "Reserved to Book a Fountain" this Spring.... or...Windows Media Player Required
more: TV on the Radio videos
albums
As passionate as ever, but now with a little more polish, TV on the Radio's second album (and Interscope debut), Return to Cookie Mountain, is their most satisfying work since they exploded onto...
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| recent albums | date | score | reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes | 2004 | 7.58 | 1 |
Recent User Reviews
One of the best of '06. I've been waiting for the domestic release for a few months, definitely worth the wait. Anytime I listen to a record from start to finish, and want to go again, I know it's a keeper.
FULL REVIEWposted Sep 15, 2006
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