If you last heard Karen O and Co. in 2003, after the fist-pumping Fever to Tell, I wouldn’t blame you if you thought It’s Blitz was the work of another band entirely. Hell, 2006’s Show Your Bones was seen by many as a diversion from their “true sound,” but even those who’ve stayed abreast of the band might be a bit shocked by how far the group has strayed from its defining sound.
Gone are the gut-wrenching guitar licks, unhinged caterwauls, and pummeling drums; in their place: soaring synths, tempered vocals, and motoric drumming. Unlike Show Your Bones, which tried to rein in the band’s more explosive characteristics to mixed results, It’s Blitz is an excellently crafted album-length experience; it’s got highs and lows, speed and patience, chillouts and breakdowns.
While most of these moments occur independently at various points in the album, standout cut “Dull Life” packs them into one song that rivals the group’s best work. Even if 20 years from now the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will be defined by the riot-grrrl post-punk of their debut, it’s refreshing to know that unlike some of their peers (ahem, The Strokes), the rest of their career has something distinctive to offer as well.
