TV on the Radio has been around for quite some time now, but their newest album, “Seeds,” suggests summoning a quality of freshness in their 13-year career.
The Brooklyn-based band blends esoteric, ambient sounds and post-punk rock. Notable tracks on their latest release include: “Love Stained,” “Seeds” and “Lazerray.” If you like Sonic Youth, Cold War Kids, or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, then you’ll likely find TV on the Radio similarly enjoyable. TV on the Radio is also inseparable from their visual artists and the album art and packaging of “Seeds” is definitely an important part of the overall product. When you pull out the sleeve that the CD is in, the cover art appears to be animated. While “Seeds” is not exactly on the same plane as “Return to Cookie Mountain” or “Nine Types of Light,” it sits sonically between both of these iconic albums, which have given much success to the band such as appearing on Rolling Stone’s best albums of the 2000s.
TV on the Radio holds true to their original sound, which is pretty tough to do when you’ve been around for so long. Formed in 2001, they continue to be anything but lackluster, evinced by the tracks “Seeds” and “Lazerray.” Tunde Adebimpe’s deep and crooning voice is more powerful than ever, and the layering effects on his vocals, such as in “Winter,” amp up these ballads even more.
Admittedly, “Seeds” isn’t lyrically impressive. Sometimes its one step away from being whiny, dad rock, but then they sprinkle in some French verses and suddenly you’re surprised. Nevertheless, instrumentation on this album is definitely on par. Fast paced, syncopated rhythms show the scope of TV on the Radio’s talent for sure.
While TV on the Radio in the past has leant heavily on percussion, “Seeds” is much more partial to production, giving it more of a pop music feel. Their songs sound less dark and anxious and more dancy and up-beat, such as “Quartz” and the lead single, “Happy Idiot.” Although it wouldn't be a TV on the Radio album without the melancholic power ballads, like “Test Pilot” and “Ride.”
TV on the Radio has come a long way from Adebimpe and Dave Sitek’s humble recordings in their Williamsburg apartments. This is also their first album since losing their bassist Gerard Smith to a long battle with cancer in 2011, nine days after the release of their “Nine Types of Light.” Undoubtedly, TV on the Radio has come back and delivered yet another beautiful collage of sounds.