It's Blitz

It's Blitz, the new album from Yeah Yeah Yeahs that recently hit shelves, is a departure from their early punk-rock roots in the days of Fever To Tell. However, the new album's experiment in synth-pop just goes to show that the superb songwriting abilities of the group span across multiple genres.
The album begins with the hit single, "Zero," which is energetic, upbeat, and extremely catchy. The use of the synthesizer sets the tone for the rest of the album, while Karen O's distinct vocals carry the sound to a new level. This continues on the next track, "Heads Will Roll." It isn't until the third track, though, that the album really hits its stride. Throwing a bit of oriental music in the mix, Yeah Yeah Yeahs here create their best song since "Maps": "Softshock." This is followed by another incredible oriental-influenced track, "Skeletons," that starts with just Karen and slowly builds up to an excellent amalgamation of drums, guitars, and synthesizer that reminds me of (and I hate to bring it up yet again) Animal Collective's "My Girls." The next few tracks are less exciting, but still decent. Those are followed by "Runaway," another of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's softer, more emotional tracks. The third of the three songs that make this album truly special, though, is the penultimate track, "Hysteric," which throws in a few endearing vocals and unexpected melodies to round off the album, which then ends on the beautiful downer "Little Shadow." It's a very satisfying listen, and fans of Yeah Yeah Yeahs (especially those who love "Maps" as much as I do) will see past the change in sound and recognize the variety of talent in the group.