Like
the Strokes
'
Modern Age
EP,
the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
' self-titled debut is a minimanifesto, announcing the arrival of another New York band to watch. Along with
the White Stripes
,
the YYYs
are the artiest and most challenging of the
garage rock
revivalists, fearlessly mashing together three decades' worth of inspiration into five songs that showcase their just-this-side-of-sleazy sex appeal and sharp sense of humor. Singer
Karen O
's love-or-hate-it instrument defines the band, whether it's crackling with high-pitched sexual tension on
"Bang"
or dripping with deadpan contempt on
"Art Star."
While
O
's singing is distinctive in its own right, the shades of previous female rockers that can be heard in her voice add another layer of intrigue to
' sound. The sweet "doo-de-doo"s and harsh screams on
"Art Star"
recall
Kathleen Hanna
's double-edged assault in
Bikini Kill
; the brittle keen
adopts on
"Miles Away"
is reminiscent of
Mecca Normal
's
Jean Smith
, or even
Janis Ian
; her sexy sneer on
and
"Mystery Girl"
calls to mind
Romeo Void
Debora Iyall
. The lurching guitars and simple, driving drumming backing her also sound like the missing link between -- or end result of -- classic New York art
punk
, and
riot grrrl
, which not so ironically celebrates classic
rock
's primal rhythms and riffs and sexy, nonsensical lyrics. Likewise, the excellent antianthem
"Our Time"
has a gritty romanticism and rousing us-against-the-world heroism that might not be expected from such an arty band, but
are nothing if not surprising.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
cram more ideas and attitude into five songs than most bands express in an entire album; if this EP is anything to go by, their full-length debut will truly be a force to be reckoned with. ~ Heather Phares