2008 Woodie Awards
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Angela Gonzalez
Issue date: 4/21/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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It's about time good music became mainstream and artists who push the pop envelope be forced into the headphones and television sets of America's youth. The Yeah Yeah Yeah's have become the indie scene's darlings in the past few years and have been almost like ambassadors for the genre as it has caught the attention of teenie-boppers and music connoisseurs alike. They signed with Interscope Records a while back and have not been apologetic in their move to become more mainstream. Nowadays you can catch "Gold Lion", the first single from "Show Your Bones", playing on MTV midday.
In an interview with "The New York Times Magazine", lead singer Karen O explains, "We wanted to be on a major label, to be mainstream. We want to be heard. I don't worry about losing so-called indie cred. Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth told us to sign with a major. He has more credibility than anyone".
In their new cd "Show Your Bones" you can definitely tell they've softened up a little, perhaps in an attempt to woo more of the masses. But at the same time, the cd is still a great listen all the way through.
In a true testament to "quality over quantity", this tiny, three-piece group is jam packed with talent. Guitarist Nick Zinner is coaxing yet powerful as he weaves in and out of blaring riffs, catchy, pop-worthy hooks and melodic strumming. Yeah Yeah Yeah's front-woman, Karen O injects her trademark shrieks amongst whispering her choppy but biting, one-liner lyrics and drummer Brian Chase bangs out some primal drum beats like in "Fancy".
A favorite track on the album has to be "Phenomena" in which Karen O proclaims "Somethin' like a phenomena, ooh baby, you're gonna get your body off". This album also feels a lot more familiar than past Yeah Yeah Yeah's music like "Maps" which held so much more of an off-beat, indie feel to it. Congratulations, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and welcome to pop music.
In an interview with "The New York Times Magazine", lead singer Karen O explains, "We wanted to be on a major label, to be mainstream. We want to be heard. I don't worry about losing so-called indie cred. Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth told us to sign with a major. He has more credibility than anyone".
In their new cd "Show Your Bones" you can definitely tell they've softened up a little, perhaps in an attempt to woo more of the masses. But at the same time, the cd is still a great listen all the way through.
In a true testament to "quality over quantity", this tiny, three-piece group is jam packed with talent. Guitarist Nick Zinner is coaxing yet powerful as he weaves in and out of blaring riffs, catchy, pop-worthy hooks and melodic strumming. Yeah Yeah Yeah's front-woman, Karen O injects her trademark shrieks amongst whispering her choppy but biting, one-liner lyrics and drummer Brian Chase bangs out some primal drum beats like in "Fancy".
A favorite track on the album has to be "Phenomena" in which Karen O proclaims "Somethin' like a phenomena, ooh baby, you're gonna get your body off". This album also feels a lot more familiar than past Yeah Yeah Yeah's music like "Maps" which held so much more of an off-beat, indie feel to it. Congratulations, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and welcome to pop music.
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