Seeds is a softly distorted declaration of love. Or heartbreak. Or something. Despite a heavier pop influence, it’s not an extreme departure from the sound of TV on the Radio’s previous albums. But as a regular listener, I feel a certain comfort in this.
As per usual, there’s a range of rock and electronic mixed together to create a noise that is gritty and sexy and sweet. This rhythm really comes together with songs like “Careful You,” which pops with a greasy back-beat and slow, drifting lyrics: “We learned the secret of a kiss / and how it melts away all pain.”
Yet other tracks, such as “Could You,” have a more classic rock noise that rely on simple drumbeats. It’s refreshingly simple and upbeat: “Could you love somebody, could you strip the ego bare and let love take flight.” Cliché maybe, but the lyrics still attempt to get to the root of what love is. And when it comes to TV on the Radio, if you don’t like their music, their lyrics almost always have a new type of poetry to offer.
That being said, Seeds has taken a lovey dovey turn that’s not quite my scene: A lot of “Will Do”-type songs, fewer “DLZ”-esque songs. I miss the intensity. Still, the album is easy to enjoy. Even with occasionally sappy lyrics, the sappiness is tempered by their usual rock method.
“Happy Idiot” is the closest we get to serious, self-contemplative rock. Essentially it’s just post-relationship bitching, quick and numbing. “Test Pilot” goes down a little more smoothly, heartbreak on a hit. It takes internal breakdown and turns it into an ideal mix of lethargy and confusion.
Tempered by Tunde Adebimpe’s unique vocals and an overarching wisdom, Seeds is occasionally hard to decipher but much more easy to just enjoy.
Seeds