Nine Types of Light

TV on the Radio | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 12, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B004NHRGQW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,753 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

EIGHT THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE TEN SONGS ON THE NEW TV ON THE RADIO ALBUM, NINE TYPES OF LIGHT (TWELVE SONGS IF YOU BUY THE DELUXE EDITION)

1.
This TV On The Radio album, Nine Types of Light (Interscope), is a lush and beautiful album that stands apart from the group's previous work. If their other albums had shades of dystopia and distress, this album, sung by Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone, is filled with songs about longing and love. "I like love songs. There's nothing particularly interesting going on with me in my life to bear this work. I like the forms of love songs, the poetry." Kyp adds that though there might be more "positivity" on this album, it wasn't an overall conceit they set out to do. "We've attempted to work on themes before but they fall apart very quickly. More organic versions arise because we're sharing time or space or communication."

Though Nine Types of Light will sound like an album full of love songs, often the true meaning of the songs lie deeper. On "You," Tunde sings a haunted refrain; you're the only one I have ever loved. The sincerity of his voice sells the idea of absolute adoration. But Tunde explains, "It's a song about the feeling you get sometimes when you're expressing how much you care about someone but resorting to these beautiful sounding lies. You're the only one I ever loved? It's a terrible thing to say to someone because it's most likely not true."

2.
Nine Types of Light is the fourth album from TV on the Radio. You will want to refer to it as the "fourth proper studio album" from TV On The Radio; those albums were preceded by an EP, Young Liars, and an 18-track handmade CD called OK Calculator, that is considered more like a demo tape (because it was "released" by being hidden in random sofa cushions of New York coffee shops). Enhancing nearly every aspect of their Shortlist Prize-winning Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes, 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain was released to crazy universal acclaim. Rolling Stone said "It might be the most oddly beautiful, psychedelic and ambitious album of the year," with The New York Times agreeing: "It's more experimental yet catchier, more introspective yet more assertive, by turns gloomier and funnier, and above all richer in both sound and implication. `Return to Cookie Mountain' is simply one of this year's best albums."

Nine Types of Light is the follow-up to the band's gorgeous, glorious 2008 release, Dear Science, and proved to be its breakout release. It was named album of the year by Rolling Stone, Spin, Pitchfork, Entertainment Weekly and MTV; and touring behind the album, the group sold out a year's worth of live shows across the world. This, however, did not prevent everyone from referring to TV On The Radio as a Brooklyn band. That is not a bad thing. The group - Tunde Adebimpe, Kyp Malone, Dave Sitek, Jaleel Bunton, Gerard Smith - are indeed from Brooklyn.

3.
But sometimes it's ok to leave. The band recorded Nine Types of Light in Los Angeles, the first time they have recorded outside of Brooklyn. In 2010, the group's multi-instrumentalist, producer and sometimes beat-boxer, Dave Sitek, moved to Los Angeles because he wanted a change of scenery. Nine Types of Light was recorded at his home studio. The experience of recording away from the friendly confines of Greenpoint and Williamsburg wasn't such a pleasant one, however, but not because of any reactionary dislike of LA that sometimes comes from New Yorkers. "I actually like Los Angeles a lot," says Jaleel. "But if there's a bohemian part of the city, a place that can be a creative sanctuary, we were staying in a place that was the opposite."

"It was in a high-end mall down the street from Rodeo Drive, and a few blocks from the Modern Instituted of Plastic Surgery," says Tunde. "And they were doing construction on our floor the whole time we were there. It wasn't so much squalor as it was...if I were a door-to-door salesman, it's where I would kill myself."

Nine Types of Light was written and recorded in about three months - slightly quicker than they've recorded any previous album.

4.
TV On The Radio do not write traditional pop songs. Often, they change direction two or three times in one song. Distorted guitars, sauntering and reverberating bass, TVOTR tunes are just-barely containing an explosive amount of energy underneath itself - and that tension is nothing less than thrilling. It has become somewhat of a signature of the band, particularly matched with Tunde's serene and poetic vocals. On this album, the group takes an admittedly simpler approach to some of their songs. "Will Do," starts out with wind chimes before giving away to that trademark buzz, with Tunde singing about the yearning for his ungovernable, unrequited love of another. "I think the songs on this album, to me, maybe sound simpler," Tunde says. "But it just might be that we have gotten better at what we do."

Other songs on Nine Types Of Light include more up-tempo post-rock jams like "No Future Shock" (vocals by Kyp) and the '80s-rap-beat "Caffeinated Consciousness," which sounds like it was influenced by Big Audio Dynamite. There are two songs, "All Falls Down" and "The Troubles," that will be available on the Deluxe Edition of the album.

5.
Nine Types of Light might sound like a peculiar name for an album. Perhaps a reference to a core scientific principle on the refraction of sunlight. Or a grand ideology of film or photography techniques. But the album title actually isn't a reference to anything specific, the band says. It holds no cryptic meaning. "It's something that kept circling around in my head," Tunde says. "It struck me as odd that that phrase, when you keep it to just nine types of light, it's excluding a billion other types of light. I like how it's a little slippery." Thus, no one should ask Tunde to actually list the nine types of light he is referring to.

6.
There is a cycle that a band goes through with each release that involves recording an album, releasing it and then touring behind it. For a group with a loyal and growing fan-base like TV On The Radio, that cycle can last about two years, which is an awful lot of time to spend with people in a highly-creative environment. This is what happened after Dear Science. "After the last show (for Dear Science), I just wanted to do anything that wasn't this," Tunde explains. "It was such an intense experience - not bad or good necessarily, just intense. I spent a lot of time after that writing and drawing pictures." Says Gerard Smith, "It allows us to do the other things we want to do, or to just decompress, and then come back to the band with some focus. We don't ever want to feel like we have to do this, that it's a job, necessarily."

7.
As celebrated and wonderful as TV On The Radio is, the entity is not enough to contain the entire creative thirst of its members, and the band's five members accomplished in the time between albums. Tunde and Gerard wrote and composed music for "The Lottery," a documentary that looks at public education through the eyes of Harlem's Success Academy annual intake lottery. Tunde also worked on a series of short film that he says may or may not ever see the light of day. He, of course, also starred in the Oscar-nominated film, Rachel Getting Married. Gerard spent time making music on his own, producing new music from the NYC-based Midnight Masses. Jaleel spent the period in between records moving out from behind the drums to playing guitar again, his first instrument. He also played in the blues and gospel band, Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir ("One of my favorite gigs ever," he says.), and continued to periodically tend bar at legendary Lower East Side bar, Max Fish.

Dave Sitek released his own solo album, under the name, Maximum Balloon (DGC/Interscope), which featured friends like Karen O, Theophilus London and David Byrne. He played with, collaborated with and produced artists like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wale and Holly Miranda. Recently he announced he would be producing and playing bass on the new album from Jane's Addiction. Kyp released his solo album under the name Rain Machine, and embarked on a couple of brief tours, including a recent one with his friend from San Francisco, singer-songwriter, Jolie Holland. One would think the last thing they'd want to do during a break would be more recording and touring, but Kyp felt differently. He says, "I feel like every concentrated experience of making a record, touring a record, and playing with different people, dealing with different social dynamics potentially increases my musicianship and how I understand music."

8.
TV On The Radio plan an extensive tour beginning just before the release of Nine Types of Light. They will headline Radio City Music Hall in New York on April 13, the day after the album's release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Post-Apocalyptic Party Continues!, April 28, 2011

By 

Rich Latta (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Nine Types of Light (Audio CD)

TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light (2011)

NINE TYPES OF LIGHT can be seen as a refinement of the wonderful and more experimental DEAR SCIENCE similar to the way that the dark, sophisticated RETURN TO COOKIE MOUNTAIN was a refinement of their promising if somewhat monotonous debut, DESPERATE YOUTH AND BLOODTHIRSTY BABES. This time out, TV On The Radio focus more on straight-forward pop songs, especially love songs. The trademark TVOTR sound is still in effect, although the drones, poly-rhythms and atmospheric washes are less dense. The songs are beautifully constructed, full of sophisticated music and brilliant counter-melodies yet, as usual, they never sound cluttered.

Most of the album is kinda laid-back and funky although it does blast off into rock world on occasion and there's an ambient song as well. DEAR SCIENCE is certainly loaded with amazing poly-rhythms, and even though they're less evident on NINE TYPES OF LIGHT, the drumming is still highly creative, just in a less obvious way. There's also plenty of groovy, quasi-funk guitar to be heard and the vocals are so smooth and truly fantastic. Despite a few slightly awkward moments, the overall sound here is more natural and organic than on DEAR SCIENCE, particularly the vocals. More subtle too. And perhaps most importantly, the songwriting and sense of melody is as great as it ever was. Highly recommended.

Breakdown!

"Second Song" - Vocalist Tunde Adebimpe begins the album by speak-singing, gradually evolving into a full singing voice. It's a disarming, off-beat way to start things, a sensibility familiar to fans that's also evidenced by the title of this the first track. The song soon picks up with a funky guitar and then launches into a full band attack as Tunde reaches that Bee-Gees level octave. It's a joyous tune, easy going yet upbeat, featuring some great brass accompaniment, another TVOTR staple. *****

"Keep Your Heart" - is a wonderful song. At first I had a hard time getting used to this one funk guitar part that sounds out of sync with the beat, almost as if it's breaking down. Then I came to realize it was probably meant to compliment the line, "If the world falls apart/ I'm gonna keep your heart." Love the way that one line combines the two themes of love and doomsday aftermath. Very intimate and romantic, very groovy and heartfelt. Love the cascading guitar at the middle 8 and the shimmering synths. Very uplifting! ****3/4

"You" - guided by a subdued hip-hop beat and a guitar with a great melodic structure. Features multiple layers of humming synths, some soaring, some kinda quirky and squeaky. A helluva love song, possibly the best track on the album. *****+

"No Future Shock" - a track in the true post-apocalyptic party spirit, and what a party it is! Another showcase of the band's fabulous flair for great melodies. *****

"Killer Crane" - A stately, atmospheric track with acoustic guitar and even some banjo that nevertheless maintains the modern sound found on the whole album. Amazing background vocals....absolutely beautiful song! *****

"Will Do" - Chiming synth bells announce this sweet love groove. So lush with a deep, almost intense undercurrent of emotion. A worthy first single and another strong contender for best album track. *****+

"New Cannonball Blues" - A more rocking song, it still maintains a funky sound along with some New Wave computer synths. More excellent brass touches appear towards the end. *****

"Repetition" - As one might guess from the title, "Repetition" is less mind-blowingly melodic than these other songs. A propulsive beat pushes it along until it breaks into open space and breathes, only to take off again with stuttering guitars and bobbing synth patterns. ****

"Forgotten" - begins in a fairly low-key manner with echoing synthetic percussion and subtle sonic touches. Sleigh bells, strings and "nuclear winter" soon kick in along with high-pitched vocals that glide overhead. The whole thing slowly builds into a horn and whistle-laden full bloom. It's another great TVOTR song that only they can deliver, but it sounds to me like they could've taken it further. ***3/4

"Caffeinated Consciousness" - is a great song, the most in-your-face rocker on the album. Alternates between a powerful, staggered rhythm and dreamy passages. The familiar sound on this one was teasing my brain for the longest time like an itch I couldn't scratch, until another reviewer here finally pointed out its similarity to "U-Mass" by The Pixies (- props to s.t.!). It's not a note-for-note rip off, but the structure and rhythm of "U-Mass" is clearly the inspiration. Hey, everybody has influences, even great artists so for me this isn't really a problem. Consider it a tribute. The song remains a punchy, upbeat climax to a killer party. ****1/2

Gerard Smith - rest in peace

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars R.I.P. Gerard Smith, May 10, 2011

By 

J. Loudon (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nine Types of Light (Audio CD)

It has been a busy couple of years for TV on the Radio since the release of 2008's "Dear Science," but the vast majority of their work did not come as a group. Lead singer Tunde Adebimpe started up a career in acting while musicians Kyp Malone and David Sitek both released solo albums. With numerous critically acclaimed albums already behind them, there was no doubting their collective talents, but the past few years have showcased their individual abilities and offered fans a unique perspective on what each member brings to the table.

Setting up camp in Sitek's home studio in Los Angeles, the band's move from Brooklyn, NY to the west coast occasionally has an influence on the music, making "Nine Types of Light" a bit of a departure from TV on the Radio's first three records. The mixture of anger and sadness heard throughout their earlier releases has been replaced with a more cheerful collection of tracks. The lyrics are still far from uplifting, but it's clear TV on the Radio are able to accept the ups and downs life has to offer with a new calm sarcasm.

One of the crowning moments lyrically comes on "Forgotten," which discusses the band's view of Beverly Hills and the chaotic style of life people endure there. Although the line "Beverly Hills, nuclear winter, what should we wear and who's for dinner?" may seem to be a grim outlook for the California coast, they call the city "paradise" one verse later.

The lead single, "Will Do" doesn't have the same energetic backing of earlier hits such as "Wolf Like Me," but it stands with the best songs they've ever released. With an enchanting beat backing words of seduction, "Will Do" may not be your everyday TV on the Radio track, but the band seems to master any style they choose.

"Nine Types of Light" has a lot to like for fans both new and old. The overall mood is more laid back than their earlier records, but the crisp production and tight arrangements are as present as ever. Adebimpe and Malone's vocals balance each other perfectly, keeping the lyrics in focus while allowing the music an equally important role. Their earlier releases may remain favorites of longtime fans, but "Nine Types of Light" is the perfect starting point for new listeners and it's sure to increase their ever-growing fan base.

Track Suggestion: "Will Do"

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nine Types of Right, May 7, 2011

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prosparagus - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Nine Types Of Light (MP3 Download)

Here's to a band unafraid to change. A band not threatened by the loss of those hardcore Brooklyn hipster "fans" who maintain the band's integrity has lessened with each new release - as TVotR's music evolved from a progressive, free-flowing noise rock (Desperate Youth) to a melodic, soulful jazz and dance rock. As such, Light is their softest, subtlest and most nuanced album to date. Not to worry the dance grooves and incredibly gripping and sexy vocal harmonies of Tunde and Kyp are at the core of this album. The layers of this album keep you coming back for another listen. The true fan will appreciate this album an expanding endeavor from one of the most genuine bands writing music today.

It is noteworthy to point out they have produced a full length film with the same name that further births these songs into our minds and reveals just how deep this band's artist vision really goes.

Outstanding tracks include: Will Do, Second Song, Caffeinated Consciousness, No Future Shock, Killer Crane