Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs Get Electrocuted

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs return from the acclaimed Fever to Tell by baring it all in their sophomore album Show Your Bones. Lead vocalist Karen O describes the title as, “what happens when you put your finger in a light socket,” which is exactly how you feel when you play the album.The electricity of songs like “Gold Lion” and “Fancy” originate from Brian Chase’s pounding drum arrangements. The percussion fused with Nick Zinner’s guitar hooks make an easy jumping off point for O’s sexy, punk vocals, which are reminiscent of Blondie’s front woman, Debbie Harry. Similar to their debut album, Show Your Bones propels its listeners with anthems like “Honeybear” to get up and move. Producer Squeak E Clean’s hip-hop foundation helps bring out the melody within the beats, giving the band a more electric and less garage band feel. While Fever to Tell urges you to recklessly jump around, Show Your Bones‘ tighter rhythm and machine sound drives you towards the dance floor.

As the album mellows down, the band has a tough time living up to 2004’s breakout hit, “Maps.” Their attempt at a similarly gentle tone with “Dudley” reveals a more nursery rhyme sense of lyrics, “Hot cold season gonna sink in my sweat / No one isn’t ever gonna make it there yet.” Though the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are at their greatest with fast pace tempo songs, like “Phenomena,” the slower ballads “Sweets” and “Warrior” make you appreciate their haunting, softer side. By the end of Show Your Bones, you’ll have the urge to stick your finger back in the light socket for another jolt.