Days after the release of TV On The Radio’s fourth album Nine Types of Light the band’s bassist Gerard Smith tragically lost his battle with cancer. Three years on, the band have returned with their fifth album, Seeds.
Seeds takes more than a few listens to process – it doesn’t have the instant appeal of some of the band’s earlier releases and it’s sure to leave fans divided. None of the tracks on Seeds – except perhaps the Ramones-inspired Lazerray – are instantly catchy. It takes time for the subtly that is Seeds to sink in– the trembling bass that juxtaposes the delicate opening lyrics of Careful You;Tunde Adebimpe’s soaring vocals in Test Pilot;the grungy guitars and hollow lyrics of Happy Idiot; the tender cries of “everything’s gonna be ok” in Trouble; and the cathartic revelations on final track Seeds.
The album has two very distinct halves, neatly divided by the lengthy introduction to Ride. The first half’s the more experimental of the two – although nowhere near as experimental as the band’s early work. Tracks such as Test Pilot are a testament to Adebimpe’s unique voice, which plays a huge part in distinguishing TVOTR from many of their alternative rock peers. Happy Idiot recalls the moody edginess of tracks such as Blues From Down Here and DLZ, albeit with a more electronic influence. The second half of the album is where the guitars kick in and the pace picks up with tracks such as Winter and Lazerray.Half two is far more raw than the first however, facing the grieving process head-on with the likes of Trouble and Seeds.
While it’s more sombre than any of the band’s previous releases, there’s an underlying sense of optimism with Seeds that often ventures into the whimsically romantic. It’s defiant – not willing to simply sit as a record about loss and grief.
Seeds is not a reflection or reiteration of the past – it’s a step forward for the band, both musically and as a part of the healing process.
BY KELSEY BERRY
Best Track: Happy Idiot
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: JOY DIVISION, SPOON, LCD SOUNDSYSTEM, THE FLAMING LIPS
In A Word: Cathartic
