Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To Tell

So, now that the press bonanza and the rampant UK craze have abated, it seems safe to tackle Fever To Tell with reasonably untainted ears. After hype built up this band, it's disheartening to unearth an overall hit-or-miss album. And what makes matters worse are the two, seemingly out of character songs that overshadow the rest of the record. Ok, sure, there's something sexy and alluring about Karen O's Chrissie Hynde meets Joan Jett meets PJ Harvey vocals. But, her rock swagger and feral screeches are only so charming before they eventually evolve into an annoying mess. It's acceptable in "Date With A Night", tolerable in "Man", but "Tick" is just too much; it isn't cute, it isn't empowering, it isn't cool. Sure, the aim of garage rock has never been to create a euphonious experience, but there comes a time when enough is enough. Indeed, the variable in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs equation seems to be Karen O, as Nick Zinner and Brian Chase only occasionally falter from their mission: providing a bluesy, crunchy, rhythmic foundation for Karen O to cavort and carry on with. The syncopated hits in "Man" pound as hard as full band and their springy rhythm throughout "Pin" completes the frivolity of Karen O's "bomp, bomp" chorus. For a two-member rhythm section, there's not much to complain about. So, the main problem with this album is introduced through the synth notes that open "Rich", and then reinforced with "Maps" and "Y Control", which are by far the highlights of this album. It's in the endearing melody ("Wait / They don't love you like I love you"), the rapid drone of the single guitar note, and the ambient, echoing tones giving way to distorted bursts that make "Maps" incredible - almost too uncharacteristic of this band. Then, "Y Control" is simply everything the Yeah Yeah Yeahs seemed they could be. While still retaining their inherent, unrefined elements they flirt with danceable beats and a dash more melody. With those two songs the Yeah Yeah Yeahs surpass not only the rest of their own album, but show that they have the ability to achieve a label greater than just "another garage rock band from New York City." Question is: do they realize this? [www.yeahyeahyeahs.com]