TV on the Radio

  TV on the Radio 
  Originally uploaded by dreadfuldan.

I first heard this band from Brookyn on The Hype Machine a month ago. The song was Wolf Like Me and I was immediately struck by the pounding drum beats and the distorted guitar that weaves throughout the song. I tagged the song in delicious and went back again and again.

Then I started listening to their other songs and quickly found great tunes like Staring At The Sun and Ambulance (see YouTube video below).

Then I went to YouTube and watched their live performances at Cochella. I want to see these guys live. Apparently I missed the opportunity at the end of June at Celebrate Brooklyn. It looks like they put on an intense show.

This clip is Ambulance live at Cochella, it's about 90 seconds long.

Last week their new record, Return To Cookie Mountain, came out in the UK. I bought it at Amazon and have been listening a bunch. I think Wolf Like Me (the song that got me hooked) is the best song on the record, but there are a number of other good tracks on it as well like Province, Let The Devil In, and Blues From Down Here.

It’s hard to describe TV On The Radio’s music. The best I can come up with is a harder darker Arcade Fire. They use a lot of cool instruments and I particularly like the great horn sounds throughout their music. But the great thing about mp3 blogging is that you can listen to the songs yourself and make up your own mind.

Comments

[Justin Ward]

Here's your chance to catch them...

Brooklynvegan's got the scoop.

[tobiaspeggs]

must be supporting a "bigger" band on some of that tour - eg they are playing shoreline in nor-cal, which is where I've seen Coldplay and Radiohead along with several thousand other people on those nights... Eitherway, yes, a great band. Speaking of great bands and great venues... check out Sonic Youth in McCarren Pool in Brooklyn last night http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobiaspeggs/sets/72157594234176950/

[Shuki Haiminis]

They were just in Boston doing a free concert at City Hall.

Was a great treat as I was walking home to see them play.

[Eric Marcoullier]

I love me some TV on Radio.

If you're interested in another band that sings a song called "Staring at the Sun" (besides, U2, the Offspring and Level 42) may I sugget Simple Kid.

No professional videos, but you can see a live acoustic-ish version on YouTube and a great live version of another single, called Truck On, at also at the Tube of You.

[Megan Cunningham]

Everyone I know who listens to TV on the Radio also loves Bloc Party. It's a very different sound, but in my experience appeals to the same demographic...http://hype.non-standard.net/search/bloc%20party/1/ Fred, I bet you'd like Helicopter and Price of Gas.

Total aside, but why doesn't Hype Machine have collaborative filtering? That's the main reason I use iTunes, to follow the trail of other buyers' tastes to discover new music. I find it's better data than Amazon's.

[tobiaspeggs]

fred - and sorry megan - let me save you the time of listening to Block Party. You should just dig out your old Gang Of Four records from the post-punk days. It's a carbon copy. And this from a brit who likes to see "his boys" doing well over here...

[Harbo]

Staring at the Sun was the ending song on Entourage (HBO show for those of you who might not know) the other night, pretty solid.

Thanks for the Wolf Like Me insert, I'll definitely be picking up Return to Cookie Mountain.

[mike]

I found TV OTR the same day I found Bright Eyes last year. It was a great day for my collection....great video.

[Jessica Doyle]

anh yeah.

TV on the radio - soo good. The Staring at the Sun track I began listening to in 2004. It was the summer of no rain in Vancouver. I spent my time staring at the sun and playing in the sea down at Wreck Beach where no one else could see.

mem-o-ries

I had moved across the continent from New Brunswick to Vancouver that year... I don't eblieve I have heard that song in some time. Nice to hear they have some new music out.

Cheers!