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I'm quite sure you all know about this band, but i only discovered it tonight with "Young Liars Ep" and the new one.

What else can we say than: "Whaou"! A mix of noisy, rock and even gospel!

Could anybody tell more about this band?

Another question: Can anybody confirm thant it's the voice of PJ Harvey we listen at the end of the song "Staring at the sun"?

― C11 (C11), Saturday, 7 February 2004 04:27 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm really into them. the ep sounds very 'studio' i saw them live and liked them even better. more raw/rocking live. they remind me of peter gabriel meets mbv at times. there a black band from brooklyn ( if you dont count the one white guy)

― phunktion, Saturday, 7 February 2004 04:46 (twenty-two years ago)

sbdy told me there was a link with the liars and the yyy?

and about the woman voice on "Staring at the sun"?

― C11 (C11), Saturday, 7 February 2004 05:00 (twenty-two years ago)

i think nick zinner played guitar on the their ep,and they produced the yyy's ep.

― phunktion, Saturday, 7 February 2004 05:32 (twenty-two years ago)

The core of this group is a trio, including the guy who produced the YYY EP. And the their full-length debut is amazing!! It's an embodiement of the current No Wave revival in NYC as done by black artists (the other two are black, including an amazing singer who sounds very much like Peter Gabriel). They have a song on there called "Ambulance," which is a doo-wop a capella tune with gospel harmonies ... just gorgeous. Bound to be one of the best records of the year.

― Chris O., Saturday, 7 February 2004 05:55 (twenty-two years ago)

For what i heard since the beggining of the year, it's the case!!!

― C11 (C11), Saturday, 7 February 2004 06:01 (twenty-two years ago)

the EP is solid, I wish the album was as strong.

― D Aziz (esquire1983), Saturday, 7 February 2004 07:46 (twenty-two years ago)

god the album is awful

― cinniblount (James Blount), Saturday, 7 February 2004 08:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Really into the music on the track I heard, but it could really use some screaming. Not for the whole song, mind you, but a few outbursts now and then would be nice.

― anode (anode), Saturday, 7 February 2004 09:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I like what I've heard so far, but they really remind me of the Beta Band for some reason.

― webcrack (music=crack), Saturday, 7 February 2004 15:14 (twenty-two years ago)

see them live. recommended. they'll be touring the U.S. in march.

― A Wyck, Sunday, 8 February 2004 01:21 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't mind that TV on the Radio is attempting fuse soul and no wave and dance music etc -- what I mind is that their music sound soulless. If a band wants to have a groove to their work, it would be nice if they actually found one.

― jack cole (jackcole), Sunday, 8 February 2004 01:35 (twenty-two years ago)

The EP is brimming with good ideas and, uh, potential. I have yet to hear the new record but I'm rooting for them.

― scott m (mcd), Sunday, 8 February 2004 04:17 (twenty-two years ago)

couldn't get into the EP, haven't tried the full-length yet

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Sunday, 8 February 2004 04:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I like that song "Satellite" but the rest of the EP is all blah and stuff

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Sunday, 8 February 2004 05:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Heard the full-length, but not the EP. what does this have to do with no-wave? not hearing it...

― Roger, Sunday, 8 February 2004 05:25 (twenty-two years ago)

the album sounded like someone trying to get you to have sex with them but in such a manner as to let you know that they suck in the sack

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 8 February 2004 11:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I dunno. I'm reviewing them next week when they play Engerland. Its just that rekkerd collection prog that every indie kid seems to love so much.

― Jimmy the Saint (Jimmy the Saint), Sunday, 8 February 2004 11:17 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, that's what i meant by lousy sex

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 8 February 2004 11:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I suppose so - others seem to do the sound without so much *force*.

― Jimmy the Saint (Jimmy the Saint), Sunday, 8 February 2004 11:22 (twenty-two years ago)

But more than likely they are going to be hyped to hell and declared saviors of rock by the end of 2004. ha ha!

― Jimmy the Saint (Jimmy the Saint), Sunday, 8 February 2004 11:24 (twenty-two years ago)

on a really really really REALLY good day tv on the radio might be able to come up with a blowjob ode 1/10th as good as "december" (but tunde adebimpe could never be half as generous a lover as ed roland)(the record makes abundantly clear 'do you swallow?' is a live or die issue for this generation's corey glover).

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 8 February 2004 11:27 (twenty-two years ago)

cinniblount ... you must be in a band

― andrew peters, Sunday, 8 February 2004 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I like them a lot. (Heh heh, and I write for Pitchfork.) Adebimpe has great pipes and his band does fresh-enough electronics and genre melds to make the music interesting - as well as catchy; mostly I like Adebimpe's approach to the songs, all the intimations of distance, watching lovers from afar, and creepy scenarios of wanting but avoiding - I thought "Blind" was the highlight of the EP (which was a pretty flawless proof of concept for the band), and the point where he gets to "My love is a suckerbet" still gives me a shiver.

Whoever called it "soulless" up above - I see where you get that but I think that's what they're trying for. I don't think rock is worth saving, and I don't think they're the next ... whoever, but they're pretty impressive.

― Chris Dahlen (Chris Dahlen), Sunday, 8 February 2004 16:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Definitly, those guys are wonderful. What an Ep!

― C11 (C11), Monday, 9 February 2004 05:07 (twenty-two years ago)

tune into xfm via the link
http://www.xfm.co.uk

NOW !

Tv on the Radio: interview coming up very soon

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 00:15 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

I can't stop listening to the LP.... hands down my fav release of the year so far.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 27 March 2004 22:59 (twenty-one years ago)

it's a good record, I listened to it an awful lot when I first got it, not so much now. There are moments on it that are undeniably gabrielesque (more melty-face era than anything else). the textures are really rich and nice. better than elbow anyway.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm sure I'll get burnt out at some point soon... but for now, just... can't... stop... hitting... play.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm very curious about this.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:31 (twenty-one years ago)

How "soul" is it?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:31 (twenty-one years ago)

)(the record makes abundantly clear 'do you swallow?' is a live or die issue for this generation's corey glover).

I must not be paying enough attention because I have no idea what this means.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:32 (twenty-one years ago)

CRAP name though.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:32 (twenty-one years ago)

How "soul" is it?

Compared to most of the post-punk revival crew (!!! included), more soulful, in that it feels more earnest. Compared to, um, actual soul music, not very at all. Pretty beat-driven in a mid-tempo, droney, submerged sort of way with some great vocals and melodies and lots of patches of weirdness.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Whatever song I heard left me a bit cold, I have to admit. I don't remember hating it, I just thought, "Oh, right."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't heard many new albums this year, but I think this is my favorite so far. I was surprised by how much I liked it, actually. I wish they would do something more uptempo for once, though.

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:43 (twenty-one years ago)

x-post. Yeah, I heard one song from the EP and it left me cold too. For some reason I decided to buy the album (mostly because it was cheap) and it really really struck a chord with me, though.

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I've got some mp3s sitting around somewhere to double check on, but the 'to-hear' list in front of them is extensive, so they can wait.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks for the mp3 update Ned-a-reeno

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Woo!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 27 March 2004 23:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I just picked up the album after having stared at the EP on many a trip to the record store, but never actually purchasing it. Really getting into the album. I'd agree that it doesn't have soul in the "this beat is making me get down, right now" sense, but it definitely has some emotion behind it. I'm really not understanding most of the comparisons I've read though, and as far as I can gather, cinniblount was unable to procure a bukake session with the band.

― mike h. (mike h.), Friday, 2 April 2004 03:52 (twenty-one years ago)

i went to school with a surprisin' amount of people who are subjects of ILM threads, and tunde from tvotr is one. always knew he would do something. so far i like the Ep better but we shall see

― duke liar, Friday, 2 April 2004 04:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Just listened to the clips on the Aquarius Records web site. Is this guy the best singer in all of current indie-rockdom?

Anyone tell me if the lyrics are good at all? I wasn't able to tell.

― Tim Ellison, Friday, 2 April 2004 06:34 (twenty-one years ago)

i really wanted to like them. finally got the mp3s for the EP and i really do. totally surprised me because i've been sooooo anti guitars and indie williamsburg crap.

and C11, think about the connections the band has. if they're friends with and work with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and there's a girl singer that sounds like PJ Harvey on Staring at the Sun, who do you think is singing?

― JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 2 April 2004 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

@d@m, i can get you the mp3s if you're interested

― JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 2 April 2004 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Is it just me or does the cover look alot like the cover for Primal Scream's Vanashing Point?

― Dude (The Yellow Dart), Sunday, 4 April 2004 03:57 (twenty-one years ago)

JaXon, it's Katrina Ford from Love Life, actually.

― anode (anode), Sunday, 4 April 2004 04:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I got the album yesterday and really, really like it. I agree with whoever up there said they were finding it addictive - I listened to it 6 or 7 times yesterday - the overall sound and mood they create makes me want to keep going back to it. And what a voice.

― Crackity (Crackity Jones), Sunday, 4 April 2004 14:36 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

i am amazed by how much i like this. (but i like the ep even moreso.)

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 30 May 2004 22:30 (twenty-one years ago)

(i mean it's not SO amazing considering they sound to me like some three-way schtupp between three mile pilot, 69-era ar kane, and underworld. but still. longtime readers will know what i mean.)

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 30 May 2004 22:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 55 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

i think the guy who books shows for my college radiostation is trying to get some dude in this band's side project to play my basement.
anyone know what its like?

― emma cleveland (emma cleveland), Friday, 13 August 2004 16:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyway, sorry, I should say that there is an Apollo Heights thread too:

Anyone hear of Apollo Heights? (Also a Veldt thread! -- MOD)

Enough sidetracking from me!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 13 August 2004 16:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Check the interview in kings magazine (http://www.kingsmagazine.com) - it reveals tons about them and they make some great points abuot black and asian people making 'rock' music today

I find the skits on the album tolerably funny

― Lazza, Friday, 13 August 2004 16:31 (twenty-one years ago)

lazza, do you work for kings? i keep seeing your name pop up to mention them. have you been sent as an ilx street teamer or something?

funnily enough, i just went there, and they have message boards up now, with somewhat baffling forum sections (i.e not one to discuss the mag itself).

― splooge (thesplooge), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

TVOTR should cover "Mama, I'm Coming Home"

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:56 (twenty-one years ago)

TVOTR should cover something from bowie's low or heroes albums.

― splooge (thesplooge), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd like to hear "Heard It Through the Grapevine," or "Strange Fruit."

― Dare, Friday, 13 August 2004 18:21 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.rockapella.com/IMAGES/outcold.jpg

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:26 (twenty-one years ago)

theyre covering the YYYs on their new EP.

― splooge (thesplooge), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Nah, it was just hte last mag I bought so I'm obviously obsessed with it until, ooh, next week when something new will be the focus of alleviating my boredom.

I think there's a mag called Gut or Cut - a Nuts/Zoo style thing. Maybe I'll start posting for that.

― Lazza, Saturday, 14 August 2004 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I ended up hearing "Staring at the Sun" on the radio tonight for the first time in a long while and I was just amazed at how CLUNKY it was. So dull and stiff -- hell, I initially thought it was some odd early Beastie Boys track. Then the next song *was* the Beasties and it was "Ch-Check It Out" and it was a lot better in comparison, which was sorta frightening.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 15 August 2004 04:15 (twenty-one years ago)

the HELL? what element of a slow Peter Gabriel noise ballad made you think it was the Beasties?

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 15 August 2004 16:12 (twenty-one years ago)

a slow Peter Gabriel noise ballad

Except this could be a good thing.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 15 August 2004 16:14 (twenty-one years ago)

dead ringer for "She's On It," it is.

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 15 August 2004 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Staring at the sun will soon place itself in your head. In about a week's time

― Lazza, Sunday, 15 August 2004 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

This involves me wanting to listen to it again, which I am in no immediate rush to do.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 15 August 2004 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm still not sure you're even thinking about the right song, boyee.

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 15 August 2004 18:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Considering that I heard the words "Staring at the sun" clearly many times in the chorus, along with a DJ ID, I put it to you that your claim I am mistaken is in turn mistaken.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 15 August 2004 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

then until the Beastie Boys comparison is explained I'll just assume you're tripping your balls off.

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 15 August 2004 18:53 (twenty-one years ago)

The best I can explain it is in the way it sounded so blocky, so *non-fluid.* Keep in mind the vocals were so weak in comparison that all I heard first was the music.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

"The best I can explain it is in the way it sounded so blocky, so *non-fluid.* Keep in mind the vocals were so weak in comparison that all I heard first was the music."

Hmmm... to each their own, I guess. I really liked "Staring At The Sun" because:

A) You don't usually hear a black artist sing in a new wave style like that (other than dude from The Dears, who just don't do it for me)

and

B) The song bubbles along without ever really coming to a boil. It threatens to kick in and get huge, but doesn't. VERY neat trick.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Sunday, 15 August 2004 21:11 (twenty-one years ago)

B is why I don't like it so much.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 21:14 (twenty-one years ago)

You don't usually hear a black artist sing in a new wave style like that

Well, I sorta think that this is a reductionist approach in general, but if this is being assayed as a potential baseline, Kenna does the trick for me there.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 15 August 2004 21:18 (twenty-one years ago)

first time i heard this song i thought the vocals reminded me of john frusciante.

― cutty (mcutt), Sunday, 15 August 2004 21:18 (twenty-one years ago)

this thread is full of anti-hype backlash as that kingsmagazine article said.

― splooge (thesplooge), Monday, 16 August 2004 08:41 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

Anyone in Chicago going to this show tonight?

― kelsey (kelstarry), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:08 (twenty-one years ago)

If not, you know they'll be back in, like, three weeks.

― ng, Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:43 (twenty-one years ago)

i want to see them but they are opening for the faint. and I do not want to see the faint. what to do? maybe they'll be back (in SF).

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

i like 'Staring At The Sun' quite a lot i think - first heard it and saw it at Resfest last weekend. even Popjustice like them!

― Senor Embargo (blueski), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)

The video is pretty funny for staring at Tunde's mantits.

― B.A.R.M.S. (Barima), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I just threw this back on the ole mp3-player...

I still really like it.

Holds up, you know?

Admitting, of course, the clunky vocals.

Good zone-out, work-out music.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Friday, 8 October 2004 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

saw these guys last night. didnt know who they were really (even though i had head one of the songs before ans scribbled the name down on a lost bint of paper). sort of dismissed the ilm threads as i thought they were another bs band of the moment.

opening track blew me away last night. not sure what it was, maybe 'staring at the sun'. so i bought the record (cause the merch guy told me the opening track was a bonst track) and boy do i want to get home and put this one on

― kephm (kephm), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 13:11 (twenty-one years ago)

just read the nme review of the new single, then heard the single, and am wondering where all the kool and the gang, curtis mayfield, outkast (and any other funky black artist) comparisons came from. the new single has more in common with early dirtbombs (even thats off the mark) than anything by outkast to me.

― splooge (thesplooge), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 14:23 (twenty-one years ago)

im hearing bob mould and even a little bit of ween in staring at the sun

they reworked staring at the sun last night with a nice, noizey shoegaze guitar/loop.

― kephm, Thursday, 14 October 2004 00:10 (twenty-one years ago)

um, reworked you could be love last night...

― kephm, Thursday, 14 October 2004 00:13 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

TV On the Radio Wins 2004 Shortlist Music Prize!

BBC NEWS report TV on the Radio collect US prize
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4016045.stm

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 16 November 2004 13:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Whoa. Weird.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 16 November 2004 13:46 (twenty-one years ago)

seven years pass...

http://www.lepoissonrouge.com/lpr_events/peoples-bailout/

― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 9 November 2012 23:56 (thirteen years ago)

one year passes...

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/09/02/tv_on_the_radio_happy_idiot_hear_the_band_s_great_first_single_from_their.html

― stacked as fuck & imposing (DJP), Tuesday, 2 September 2014 18:18 (eleven years ago)

shit sounds like audioslave wtf

― le goon (J0rdan S.), Tuesday, 2 September 2014 18:23 (eleven years ago)

this band vblows

― famous instagram God (waterface), Tuesday, 2 September 2014 18:53 (eleven years ago)

Turn off the tv on the radio

― nostormo, Tuesday, 2 September 2014 19:33 (eleven years ago)

I still remember the time when they were actually good

― nostormo, Tuesday, 2 September 2014 19:34 (eleven years ago)

I love all their albums. new one not good?

― akm, Tuesday, 2 September 2014 20:29 (eleven years ago)

ten years pass...

Looks like a lot of people are having a tough time getting tickets to the upcoming shows (NY, LA and London only), getting blocked for being "bots" (when they're not) and being unable to check out when they're able to select tickets. And above all, a lot of scalpers/actual bots overwhelming the system - even with the pre-sales, they were cleaned out fast, and a lot of tickets are now showing up on resellers for jacked up prices. Regular sale's in two days, but not sure how many tickets are left. FWIW, Dave's still with the band, but he's reportedly sitting this one out.

― birdistheword, Tuesday, 10 September 2024 21:26 (one year ago)

seven months pass...

Tunde solo album is so good but too short!

― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Sunday, 27 April 2025 02:59 (ten months ago)

two months pass...

went back to listen to these guys after all the 20th anniversary of desperate youth stuff i was reading. YL is still so brilliant, so intense, it has this weird, insular new york vibe that i dont think they were able to capture again (a bit like shabazz palaces' black up in a way). its just immaculate really. the first album does have the same vibe, and i love a lot of the odd things going on rhythmically, but the writing is not nearly as consistent as it was on YL. still interesting, and it def has some clear standouts (dreams, wrong way, ambulance), but it seems a bit like leftovers from that YL era - same setup and atmosphere more or less, but the songs are largely less developed. idk if they released it too fast?

cookie mountain is prob just a bit too long and samey (it just seems over laboured a lot of the time) and gets into this sort of majestically glum (eg province) or blandly experimental mode a bit too much (also the running order seems a bit haphazard), but if i was a lover, wolf like me and playhouses are three of the best things TVOTR ever did. playhouses is really just incredible. tundes singing sounds a bit affected on quite a bit of this album too (i think its a method where he sounds like hes channelling animal collective).

dear science has prob held up the worst (though it also has maybe tundes best vocals, he sounds really great on it). halfway home is so well put together and beautiful, and family tree is one of the all time best coldplay songs not by coldplay, but the production on the album is so middlebrow and anodyne, i find a lot of it awful to listen to, esp the horrible sterile funk sound they tried on a few songs. nice that it made them better known, and i like that they tried to do something diff on each album, but this band just seemed to get less interesting as they went on (not sure if i will bother reinvestigating the last two albums). am going to see them live after seeing their glastonbury performance though - theyve become a great live band.

― midnightmarauder, Wednesday, 23 July 2025 09:57 (seven months ago)

two months pass...

man, show in SF last night was incredible. but does anyone know what's going on with Dave Sitek? Not on the tour, apparently deleted his IG a while ago. Band had said last year he was 'still in the band'.

― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Sunday, 12 October 2025 17:54 (five months ago)

He's a busy producer and studio guy, maybe just doesn't want to be on the road?

― Jordan s/t (Jordan), Sunday, 12 October 2025 18:29 (five months ago)

https://www.instagram.com/davesitek

― micarl, Tuesday, 14 October 2025 03:20 (five months ago)

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