Average Metacritic score is 82 (36 reviews):

by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It's Blitz (Interscope)
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Metacritic Ranking: 90 (n/a)
Pitchfork: 8.1




http://www.adequacy.net/2009/03/yeah-ye ... its-blitz/

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!
March 30, 2009 by Bryan Sanchez

Following in the footsteps of their much-maligned previous album, Show Your Bones, the trio of musicians were criticized for opening up and conveying a much lighter sound. And rather than beefing it up and making another dense Fever to Tell, they went a different route, the electronica route.

But this is still a Yeah Yeah Yeahs album at its very core. The piano-led composition that is “Runaway” is a nice touch and it gradually matures into one of the album’s many highlights. “Heads Will Roll” is a true to form, rocking stomper of the best kind. The music is somewhat tempered before a menacing guitar crescendos into a huge buildup of music; the payoff is paramount. It’s obvious that the band hasn’t lost anything in terms of hooks and riffs and with Karen O wailing away, the results are outstanding.

A compelling song, “Skeletons” is a thrill for its overall affect. Quiet and reserved, the music is scaled down to reveal a much softer side than before. This is preceded by a sweet pop affair in “Soft Shock.” Both are juxtaposed by their equal contributions of magic, joy and enigmatic music. The latter showcases Karen O’s voice in the best sense: she scats, playfully hums and sings her lyrics in such an adoring manner, it’s hard not to be sucked in by that.

The bookends on the album are what complete and cement it as the superb album it truly is. “Little Shadow” is a swirling ballad that echoes everything David Sitek is known for. The musicians are allowed to take over and Karen O sounds ever so haunting when she sings and hums. And to top it off, there is just a light haze of reverb layered on top for good measure. This contrasts the aforementioned “Zero” with its thumping drums and upbeat demeanor. This is where co-producer Nick Launay shows off his chops as a curator of electronica music. With a repertoire that features work with Talking Heads and Nick Cave, to name a few, the song pulses and jives to synths and Karen O’s magnetic voice.

It’s all of these affectations and convictions that make It’s Blitz! one of the year’s greatest albums. Make no qualms, it’s the kind of album that many should love and unfortunately, few will love to hate. Who knows if they’ll ever make anything as wild as Fever to Tell, but if they continue to grow and expand their sound, that’s all we can hope for. And when you have so many people paying attention to your every move, you have to be doing something right.

half kick-ass, half decent. i actually like the addition of the synth and their live show is good.

I like the addition of the synth as well. Good album, wont make my top list tho

didn't hear it. never really been drawn to this band. am I missing out?

Top 20 for me, they're getting progressively better with each album.

Didn't like this one as much as the last one but its still really damn solid. Not sure of its placement yet but its got an outside shot at Top 20, maybe higher.

No one is more surprised that I've become a big fan of YYY than me.

I don't think I have fully heard this album yet.

everyone I know loves this band, I don't get it.

this band annoys me because i like the song "Modern Romance" and some other Karen O stuff (like the WTWTA soundtrack) but for the most part i don't care for the YYY songs.

Hell, even I'm a fan of this band. They fucking rock. I really like this album.

i was never really into this band either. but i heard this at a friend's insistence and really liked it. maybe i just wasn't on the ball with them, or maybe this album's a bit tweaked from what they've done previously. i still haven't explored their earlier stuff beyond the singles, other than seeing them, but maybe give a few tracks a shot.

yes they do

I like their early stuff. I like Karen O's Wild Things soundtrack, but I can't get behind/enjoy this record or the last one.

Good album, not Top 20 for me tho

this sounds more like it should be a karen o solo record than an actual YYY's album.

there were a few good songs but it didn't do much for me.

i ended up selling this one off, so i thought it had like four good songs.

never did hear the expanded version with four acoustic songs on it. can someone up that for me?

Can't get into YYYs but dug the Wild Thing's soundtrack like many of you.

time for a new sig, Bee Ok, whad'ya say man...make it stop.

IMO, one of the most underrated bands in recent American history. I know they get a lot of attention. They just don't get enough attention. They should be blaring from every other stereo. They seem so universally appealing, yet very few of my friends are fans or even know who they are.

I actually really like this record even if I find some of the songs where they are attempting to "rock" laughable.

I hate "Heads Will Roll" and "Dull Life". Could probably do without "Runaway" as well.

For me, the reason this record succeeds is because of the softer songs. I wasn't very high on this until I finally heard those acoustic versions of "Soft Shock", "Skeletons", "Hysteric", and "Little Shadow". Just beautiful stuff.

As for loud rock n roll, they've never topped "Fever To Tell". The guitar sound on that record is great, especially on "Man".

like it, but don't love it


Karen O's voice is pretty weak and sometimes grating though I like "Soft Shock" somehow

over the year started to hate this album. a HUGE,THROBBING disappointment to me.