Ten years and four albums later, TV on the Radio is still going strong, albeit in a different direction, with Nine Types of Light.
As the Brooklyn-based band's fifth album, Nine Types of Light shows how the band has evolved together in character and sound. Initially starting out as just Tunde Adebimpe (vocals), Dave Sitek (producer/instrumentals), and Kyp Malone (guitarist) on the first two EPs, they then brought in Jaleel Bunton (drummer) and Gerard Smith (bassist, who sadly just passed away on April 20th from lung cancer) for the latter three. This has given them a truly chameleon-like ability to take on various genres from their initial artsy rock to jazz, funk, post-punk, and soul music with a cappella, anthems, and power ballads incorporated into their often relevant, sometimes political, messages.
For Nine Types of Light, however, they take a turn for the more romantic, revealing a soft side we haven't seen before. More of a soft rock, this album blends mostly passive lovers songs with quirky uptempo beats like with a twangy banjo on "Killer Crane". Adebimpe's soothing howls and cooing embody the lyrics beautifully on sweet tracks like "Will Do": "your love makes a fool of you, you can't seem to understand, a heart doesn't play by rules, and love has its own demand". Shifting toward a more electric-rock towards the end of the album, TVotR kicks it up a few notches on the raw, bluesy sound on "New Cannonball Run" with a touch of synth. "Repetition" is a track with just that: a fast-paced repetitive, catchy tune. The album culminates with "Caffeinated Consciousness", giving a bit more java and jive that you can rock out to.
With the recent death of Smith, it makes the release of this album all the more bittersweet and contributes to the more heart-felt, endearing tone on the album. It also poses an interesting question as to how the band will continue and with what sound as it takes on yet another change. On Nine Types of Light, we see TV on the Radio in a new light different from any of the other ones they've cast before-- a softer, more agreeable one.
By: Chelsea Olson
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