TV On the Radio are a band that are, among other things, impossible to pigeonhole, and it is perhaps this single quality that makes their sophomore album as good as it is. There are so many different influences that intermingled to create this sound that trying to identify them all would probably feel like a really awkward family reunion where everyone is technically related but no one really knows anybody else, so I will avoid trying to list them all and instead hit a few of the key ones: soul, funk, jazz, electronic, hip-hop, and even doo-wop.
What makes this album work is not just the obscenely good vocals of Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone, but the perfection in which they are implemented within each track: sometimes soft, letting the often industrial guitars and programmed drums drive the song (King Eternal); at other times forceful and demanding to be the center of attention (Dreams). The middle track, Ambulance, is completely a cappella--a risk for any band to take, but which Adebimpe and Malone pull off flawlessly. Lyrically, the album is sublime and deep, covering topics from racism to war to love while never missing a beat.
If you've never listened to TV On the Radio before, they can sound disjointed at first--even awkward. I would classify this album as a grower simply because I believe it takes multiple listens to appreciate every subtlety that the band buried deep into this record.
Staring at the sun
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