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Editorial Reviews
2009 release from the New York trio, the follow-up to 2006's Show Your Bones. It's Blitz! was recorded with Nick Launay (producer of YYY's 2007 Is Is EP) and longtime collaborator TV On The Radio's Dave Sitek. The album signals both a glance backward and a step forward for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Guitarist Nick Zinner had brought along an old keyboard he bought on eBay to work with during the writing session, not expecting it to end up on the album. However, the sounds of the vintage Arp were so right for the new songs that they found their way into the atmospheric washes of "Skeletons", the Disco wiggles of "Heads Will Roll", and New Wave melodrama of "Soft Shock". The whole record has a new feeling of space and atmosphere, a new sonic dimension, if you will.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been more than adept at keeping themselves a fresh commodity since they hit the NYC dance-punk scene in the early part of the millennial decade, their three albums over six years each showing a steady progression and evolution in the trio's distinctive sound. It's Blitz! is, predictably, like nothing the band has done before, trading in the raucous guitar assault of their debut and the more acoustic sounds of sophomore effort Show Your Bones for . . . disco?
Well, not quite. While the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have discovered a newfound appreciation for synthesizers and tasty backbeats on It's Blitz!, the band remains focused on well-crafted melodies, Karen O's distinctive vocals, and an appreciation for an undeniably organic sound that belies the electronica they put to excellent use here. Opener "Zero" starts off with a buzzing synth line and pulsating keyboards framing Karen O's effortless exhortations to "put your leather on." The song's graceful climax and smorgasbord of perfectly out-of-place blips and glitches perhaps make the song a challenging proposition to long-term fans, but its icy beauty and irresistibly catchy chorus, where Nick Zinner's guitar blares out in all its distorted glory, bode well for what follows.
And what follows is easily the best opening sequence Yeah Yeah Yeahs have put together. "Heads Will Roll" balances a menacing disco beat and O's frantic message to "dance `til you're dead" with a chorus and stinging hook that drag you in and don't let go, while "Soft Shock" dials back the energy without letting up on the band's flowing pop sensibility and O's uncomplicated vocals. For a singer who has built her reputation on the foundations of riot-grrl imagery and gritty New York punk, Karen O is unusually at ease here, her voice able to sound naturally in command or vulnerable at points without coming off as too affected.
Such an opening trifecta would be hard for any band to live up to, so it comes as little surprise that It's Blitz! dies down a bit in the middle. "Skeletons" takes the whole electronica shtick to an unnecessary level, washing the song in ambient noise and out-of-place string bits that make a threadbare song a needless slow burner, one that lacks the heart of the epic the band obviously wants it to be. Follow-up "Dull Life" is marginally better, but its up-tempo rhythm and needling guitar sound more out-of-place than anything else on the record, and the song's unusually strict adherence to standard verse-chorus-verse structure cause it to be fairly unremarkable.
But when you're nitpicking songs because they seem "too standard" or "out-of-place," it's because everything else is so damned good. The spooky synths and funky guitar of "Dragon Queen" impeccably mesh O's airy, sexy vocals with the tune's seductive disco strut, and the impressive rock showcase that is "Shame and Fortune" prove that Karen O is hardly the reason for the band's success - just take a listen to Zinner's wicked fuzz-guitar riffing in the outro.
And that's saying nothing about the two gorgeous ballads that close It's Blitz!, "Hysteric" and "Little Shadows." The former has been declared the best song on the record by numerous critics, and for good reason: it's dreamy, hazy electro-rock vibe combined with O's most personal, earnest lyrics of Yeah Yeah Yeah's career make the song a love letter to match 2003's "Maps" and possibly overtake it. O's gentle serenade of the chorus, "flow sweetly, hang heavy / you suddenly complete me, you suddenly complete me" complete the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' transformation from frosty punk rockers to empathetic pop auteurs.
"Little Shadows" is an atmospheric lullaby that closes the record as you'd expect it to be closed, with a placid sigh rather than a bang, a sublime, reflective summation of the album. "Gentle;" "reflective;" "lullaby;" these are hardly words I would have associated with Yeah Yeah Yeahs a few years ago, but given the band's penchant for change, it's not as surprising as it might be for some of their class-of-'03 peers like, say, the Strokes.
"Change or die" has often been a wise maxim to live by, and none have done it as well as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Zinner's characteristic guitar methods, drummer Brian Chase's rock-steady beats, and, most of all, Karen O's simple, relatable lyrics and practiced vocals have given the band repeated leases on life, and with It's Blitz!, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs look poised to enter a new decade as strongly as they roared into this one. We still have eight months to go in 2009, but already this year is shaping up to end the decade in brilliant musical style.
Well, not quite. While the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have discovered a newfound appreciation for synthesizers and tasty backbeats on It's Blitz!, the band remains focused on well-crafted melodies, Karen O's distinctive vocals, and an appreciation for an undeniably organic sound that belies the electronica they put to excellent use here. Opener "Zero" starts off with a buzzing synth line and pulsating keyboards framing Karen O's effortless exhortations to "put your leather on." The song's graceful climax and smorgasbord of perfectly out-of-place blips and glitches perhaps make the song a challenging proposition to long-term fans, but its icy beauty and irresistibly catchy chorus, where Nick Zinner's guitar blares out in all its distorted glory, bode well for what follows.
And what follows is easily the best opening sequence Yeah Yeah Yeahs have put together. "Heads Will Roll" balances a menacing disco beat and O's frantic message to "dance `til you're dead" with a chorus and stinging hook that drag you in and don't let go, while "Soft Shock" dials back the energy without letting up on the band's flowing pop sensibility and O's uncomplicated vocals. For a singer who has built her reputation on the foundations of riot-grrl imagery and gritty New York punk, Karen O is unusually at ease here, her voice able to sound naturally in command or vulnerable at points without coming off as too affected.
Such an opening trifecta would be hard for any band to live up to, so it comes as little surprise that It's Blitz! dies down a bit in the middle. "Skeletons" takes the whole electronica shtick to an unnecessary level, washing the song in ambient noise and out-of-place string bits that make a threadbare song a needless slow burner, one that lacks the heart of the epic the band obviously wants it to be. Follow-up "Dull Life" is marginally better, but its up-tempo rhythm and needling guitar sound more out-of-place than anything else on the record, and the song's unusually strict adherence to standard verse-chorus-verse structure cause it to be fairly unremarkable.
But when you're nitpicking songs because they seem "too standard" or "out-of-place," it's because everything else is so damned good. The spooky synths and funky guitar of "Dragon Queen" impeccably mesh O's airy, sexy vocals with the tune's seductive disco strut, and the impressive rock showcase that is "Shame and Fortune" prove that Karen O is hardly the reason for the band's success - just take a listen to Zinner's wicked fuzz-guitar riffing in the outro.
And that's saying nothing about the two gorgeous ballads that close It's Blitz!, "Hysteric" and "Little Shadows." The former has been declared the best song on the record by numerous critics, and for good reason: it's dreamy, hazy electro-rock vibe combined with O's most personal, earnest lyrics of Yeah Yeah Yeah's career make the song a love letter to match 2003's "Maps" and possibly overtake it. O's gentle serenade of the chorus, "flow sweetly, hang heavy / you suddenly complete me, you suddenly complete me" complete the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' transformation from frosty punk rockers to empathetic pop auteurs.
"Little Shadows" is an atmospheric lullaby that closes the record as you'd expect it to be closed, with a placid sigh rather than a bang, a sublime, reflective summation of the album. "Gentle;" "reflective;" "lullaby;" these are hardly words I would have associated with Yeah Yeah Yeahs a few years ago, but given the band's penchant for change, it's not as surprising as it might be for some of their class-of-'03 peers like, say, the Strokes.
"Change or die" has often been a wise maxim to live by, and none have done it as well as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Zinner's characteristic guitar methods, drummer Brian Chase's rock-steady beats, and, most of all, Karen O's simple, relatable lyrics and practiced vocals have given the band repeated leases on life, and with It's Blitz!, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs look poised to enter a new decade as strongly as they roared into this one. We still have eight months to go in 2009, but already this year is shaping up to end the decade in brilliant musical style.
18 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By AMP
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
My rating: 3.5 out of 5
*"Zero." One of the better (if not the best) tracks on this album. It's a groovy electronic dance song with some good singing/lyrics and good synthesized sounds. Like most of the other songs, however, it doesn't have a very strong guitar or percussion; it's a lot less rock and much more dance music.
*"Heads Will Roll." A heavier dance song with stronger percussion and more intense lyrics. There's also some heavier guitar at the end of the song.
*"Soft Shock." A little lighter dance song, with more upbeat melody and lyrics.
*"Skeletons." A soft track with very little instrumentation. Some wood percussion is used, sounding like bones or something. The melody is uplifting.
*"Dull Life." A great rock song, more in line with other music usually sung by this band. It has a distinctive melody (for some reason, it sounds oriental to me), good lyrics, and strong percussion and guitar. It's cool.
*"Shame and Fortune." Another decent rock song, but with more electronic sounds. Melody and lyrics are great.
*"Runaway." Another slow uplifting track, much like "Skeletons." Has some good percussion at the end.
*"Dragon Queen." A moderate-tempo pop/rock song with soft vocals, good percussion, and some groovy sounds.
*"Hysteric." A slower rock song. Has good vocals and percussion, but is still quite slow and soft.
*"Little Shadow." A much slower song with some guitar and soft vocals. Not bad for the album's end.
First off, this album lacks the crazy energetic rock songs that dominated "Fever to Tell," or even "Show Me Your Bones." Instead, this album resembles something Moby made, not only because these songs are electric dance/chill-out, but also because they are using similar sounds. That being said, the album is not bad on its own merits. I found "Zero," "Heads Will Roll," "Dull Life," and "Dragon Queen" worthwile. YYY fans, or anybody looking for good dance tunes, may find this interesting. But if you're looking for more intense rock, you may be dissapointed.
The cover art on this CD is interesting. If you can't tell (because I didn't figure it out right away), the front cover is a picture of Karen O. squeezing an egg. The booklet includes a few good photos of the band performing. The inside covers are made to resemble a pizza box, and the disc art has the image of a pizza on it with the band members' heads on it. It's quite novel.
*"Zero." One of the better (if not the best) tracks on this album. It's a groovy electronic dance song with some good singing/lyrics and good synthesized sounds. Like most of the other songs, however, it doesn't have a very strong guitar or percussion; it's a lot less rock and much more dance music.
*"Heads Will Roll." A heavier dance song with stronger percussion and more intense lyrics. There's also some heavier guitar at the end of the song.
*"Soft Shock." A little lighter dance song, with more upbeat melody and lyrics.
*"Skeletons." A soft track with very little instrumentation. Some wood percussion is used, sounding like bones or something. The melody is uplifting.
*"Dull Life." A great rock song, more in line with other music usually sung by this band. It has a distinctive melody (for some reason, it sounds oriental to me), good lyrics, and strong percussion and guitar. It's cool.
*"Shame and Fortune." Another decent rock song, but with more electronic sounds. Melody and lyrics are great.
*"Runaway." Another slow uplifting track, much like "Skeletons." Has some good percussion at the end.
*"Dragon Queen." A moderate-tempo pop/rock song with soft vocals, good percussion, and some groovy sounds.
*"Hysteric." A slower rock song. Has good vocals and percussion, but is still quite slow and soft.
*"Little Shadow." A much slower song with some guitar and soft vocals. Not bad for the album's end.
First off, this album lacks the crazy energetic rock songs that dominated "Fever to Tell," or even "Show Me Your Bones." Instead, this album resembles something Moby made, not only because these songs are electric dance/chill-out, but also because they are using similar sounds. That being said, the album is not bad on its own merits. I found "Zero," "Heads Will Roll," "Dull Life," and "Dragon Queen" worthwile. YYY fans, or anybody looking for good dance tunes, may find this interesting. But if you're looking for more intense rock, you may be dissapointed.
The cover art on this CD is interesting. If you can't tell (because I didn't figure it out right away), the front cover is a picture of Karen O. squeezing an egg. The booklet includes a few good photos of the band performing. The inside covers are made to resemble a pizza box, and the disc art has the image of a pizza on it with the band members' heads on it. It's quite novel.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Just a few brief comments as others have already stated the strengths of this album in detail.
To my ears this was so different from the first two that I instantly did not like it. After repeated listens however I've found this album to be easily one of the best of the year and certainly on par with their excellent first album.
Maybe it's just her vocals, but I can't but help but compare this version of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to classic Siouxie and the Banshees, 1980-81, when they too added electronics to paint their own musical landscape, after evolving from a guitar driven punk act. Granted, the Yeah Yeah Yeah's certainly did not give up the guitar riffs on this album, they expanded their sound and so gave us a quality release.
To my ears this was so different from the first two that I instantly did not like it. After repeated listens however I've found this album to be easily one of the best of the year and certainly on par with their excellent first album.
Maybe it's just her vocals, but I can't but help but compare this version of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to classic Siouxie and the Banshees, 1980-81, when they too added electronics to paint their own musical landscape, after evolving from a guitar driven punk act. Granted, the Yeah Yeah Yeah's certainly did not give up the guitar riffs on this album, they expanded their sound and so gave us a quality release.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's Blitz! Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Love this record for the same reason I've given this band 5-star rating throughout. They are great, as is this recoed.
I love the edgy, ionnovative music this band makes. Read more
I love the edgy, ionnovative music this band makes. Read more
Published 5 days ago by leevon
3.0 out of 5 stars
2.5 stars
i like all the earliar yeah yeah yeahs stuff but i found that only the first 2 songs were good on this album.
Published 1 month ago by Clifton Patterson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing album.
If you are a fan of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's (As I am) you'll love this album.
If you're not, you may not enjoy it quite as much.
That's about all I've got.
If you're not, you may not enjoy it quite as much.
That's about all I've got.
Published 1 month ago by Brett
4.0 out of 5 stars
Was ok...
There are a few good songs on this album, but I'm not thrilled with it as a whole. Zero, and Heads will roll are awesome songs that will get stuck in your head for days. Read more
Published 6 months ago by SMalone
4.0 out of 5 stars
good music
love them, such great music to jam out to. always enjoy myself when they are playing on my iPod. hope they come out with more songs
Published 6 months ago by meff90
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is your brain on Karen O.
The exploding egg on the cover sums up the high-energy frenzy that can only come from Karen O. I've been listening to this album for years and it just keeps getting better!
Published 6 months ago by Squidshoes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid
There's a lot of variety here, which is great, and most of the songs sound good, which is also great, but not everything works well. Read more
Published 6 months ago by JW
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blitz your brain
This is a wonderful album. Good luck not hitting repeat after first listening to this gem. Full of great hooks with well crafted beats. Not a single to be skipped here.
Published 7 months ago by John B.
5.0 out of 5 stars
LIKE ONE TRACK LIKE THEM ALL!
ITS BLITZ! was the runner up to Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix for the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, so I bought both. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Matt Sour
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasant Surprise
For someone whose introduction to YYY's was "Maps" and "Modern Romance", this follows the mold of love(sick) balladry. Read more
Published 10 months ago by reviews appreciated
