Show Your Bones
by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 99 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 84 out of 99
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 99
  3. Negative: 4 out of 99

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  1. Ricko
    Sep 20, 2018
    8
    A fairly strong follow up to their debut "Fever to Tell". There's not too much of a change but "Show Your Bones" is less rocky and a little bit more melodic but has all the trademarks that would have attracted you to the band in the first place. The early and latter parts of the records do a good job of holding up a slightly lagging middle section.
  2. j30
    Aug 15, 2011
    8
    Really good album. Great follow-up to Fever To Tell. It amazes me how they've evolved as a band.
  3. FabioL
    Sep 7, 2007
    10
    A great album all around. Worlds different than Fever to Tell... still a masterpiece.
  4. ReubenF
    Dec 18, 2006
    8
    For a band with a Riot Grrl influence, this album is remarkably polished in sound. A number of songs rate among the best of 2006, including 'Turn Into', 'Cheated Hearts', 'Honeybear' and 'Gold Lion'. Karen O made quite an impression down under in her live performances in 2003 ;-)
  5. PedroO
    Nov 19, 2006
    10
    Siouxsie must love this. I do.
  6. AmurabiM
    Jul 11, 2006
    8
    It´s clear than "Show Your Bones" shows...some guts. Brave, coraegous and risked, this album is just a continuation of the wonderful job of previous album. But, "Show..." is more than that. It seems than the band are trylng not just show its bones but they are trying to do something more affordable with them. This is a personal album for The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Looks like a change, It´s clear than "Show Your Bones" shows...some guts. Brave, coraegous and risked, this album is just a continuation of the wonderful job of previous album. But, "Show..." is more than that. It seems than the band are trylng not just show its bones but they are trying to do something more affordable with them. This is a personal album for The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Looks like a change, musically and personally. Ambitious, powerful and conscious that they are the avant garde (for the failure of The Strokes) of alternative music right now. They are not trying to replicate its first album, au contraire, they are trying to redefine its sound. A sound than its closer to a dance punk music than art punk. Producer seems very important here. The producer makes them sound bigger, louder and clearer. They have fantastic songs: "Gold Lion", "Way Out" and "Fancy" (with some keyboards inside). But the glorious, "Cheated Hearts", "Dudley" and, above all, "Turn Into", elevates to the band to the status of great roc´k´n´roll bands. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs made a fantastic album, but the real brain in this is the guitar player Nick Zinner, a guy who plays monstruous riffs and textures similar to My Bloody Valentine, with the same skills. Karen O looks changed, but her voice is just the same. This album looks alike a couple dancing in its wedding, savage, sensual but overall, exquisitely as the whole album is playing. This is a magnificent album, a triumph to this band previousily called: "The Nerd, The Goth and The Whore".… Expand
  7. Jahar
    Jun 29, 2006
    8
    Much more polished and listener friendly than "Fever to Tell."
  8. AndrewA
    Jun 26, 2006
    8
    If "Fever to Tell" was too chaotic for you, then you´ll love this record.
  9. MarthaStewart
    Jun 8, 2006
    7
    not their best effort
  10. D
    May 23, 2006
    9
    Kicks a*% and takes names!
  11. NickyV
    May 15, 2006
    10
    I loved loved loved fever to tell...and I'm loving loving loving show your bones...karen-O is so....different....unembarassed and raw...it's ..........lovely....
  12. JasonA
    May 4, 2006
    8
    I liked a few older YYY's tracks but never bothered to check out their first full length album. I happened upon Show Your Bones and when i finally sat down and gave it a chance I fell in love. Give it a few listens and you may feel the same way. Slightly more mature sound but I mean that in the best way. The last few tracks drag a little bit but other than that I can't fault this album.
  13. ChristopherH
    May 3, 2006
    8
    Really good.
  14. sM
    May 1, 2006
    9
    'Phenomenon' is the greatest YYY track ever...
  15. matta
    Apr 21, 2006
    8
    No real stand-outs, but a very consistent and memorable album. Despite the metascore, this album is superior to Fever To Tell. A solid sophomore effort.
  16. DanB.
    Apr 17, 2006
    8
    not really a big fan of their's but this is great
  17. RandyB
    Apr 9, 2006
    10
    While 2003's FEVER TO TELL had moments of brilliance in "Rich", "Man" and "Maps" and a certain appeal, it grew to be too much over the course of the whole thing. The Yeahs' new album SHOW YOUR BONES is a leaner and ultimately fiercer record. Each song sounds different from the last, and each one is memorable. Karen O's lyrics may be a bit scattershot, but they show While 2003's FEVER TO TELL had moments of brilliance in "Rich", "Man" and "Maps" and a certain appeal, it grew to be too much over the course of the whole thing. The Yeahs' new album SHOW YOUR BONES is a leaner and ultimately fiercer record. Each song sounds different from the last, and each one is memorable. Karen O's lyrics may be a bit scattershot, but they show cleverness, and her voice soars and hisses in all the right places. Delivery is everything, or at least a good chunk of it (because while a song may be saying something beautiful as in Oasis' "Wonderwall", if it's executed poorly it can sound terible), and the Yeah's play every song like it's the best thing you've ever heard. Some may carp that the Yeah's have sold out or wimped out, but honestly, would you have preferred more of the same old same old? If Quentin Tarantino had just cloned Pulp Fiction in Kill Bill would anybody have cared about the film? SHOW YOUR BONES is not the sound of a band "selling out", but the sound of a band confident and grown up enough to say: "Yeah, we sold a million records-so what about it?" So far, it's the best record of the year.… Expand
  18. AmandaD
    Apr 7, 2006
    9
    love it.
  19. AnnS
    Apr 7, 2006
    7
    While Show Your Bones seemed to me more of a "crowd-pleaser", with hints of a pop-like Tegan and Sara sound, it really isn't as horrible as everyone is saying. I agree it's much more mainstream sounding than the fantastic, loud, progressive art rock that Fever To Tell produced, which is indeed somewhat disappointing. However, I think that if this were their first album, and it While Show Your Bones seemed to me more of a "crowd-pleaser", with hints of a pop-like Tegan and Sara sound, it really isn't as horrible as everyone is saying. I agree it's much more mainstream sounding than the fantastic, loud, progressive art rock that Fever To Tell produced, which is indeed somewhat disappointing. However, I think that if this were their first album, and it didn't have to meet the expectations of Fever To Tell, it would have been given more of the praise it deserves. A good, solid album. Worth a shot.… Expand
  20. Frostg
    Apr 6, 2006
    10
    This is an amazing album. When I read the reviews from places like Pitchfork I wonder if they bothered to listen to it more than once or twice. I realyl liked it to start with and with time I am now seeing just how good this album is. It is also not fair or meaningful to say "not as good as the early stuff". This album stands on its own merits. An album like this makes me wish I could This is an amazing album. When I read the reviews from places like Pitchfork I wonder if they bothered to listen to it more than once or twice. I realyl liked it to start with and with time I am now seeing just how good this album is. It is also not fair or meaningful to say "not as good as the early stuff". This album stands on its own merits. An album like this makes me wish I could start a band tonight and try and do something half as good.… Expand
  21. ptha
    Apr 6, 2006
    7
    It's a toned down, more nuanced version of "Fever to Tell". It's reassuring to hear that the YYYs are not just a one trick pony. They've navigated the treacherous waters that are the 2nd album quite nicely, can't wait to hear what in store for no. 3.
  22. AndyW
    Apr 6, 2006
    7
    I have to admit when I hear tunes off of Fever To Tell, I feel absolutely disgusted by it. "Maps", however, pulls off a sound that's so unique and so distinct compared to rest of the songs off the album, that I wish every track was like that. I was starting to lose faith in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs...and then Gold Lion came out. Possibly, one of the most catchiest alternative singles of I have to admit when I hear tunes off of Fever To Tell, I feel absolutely disgusted by it. "Maps", however, pulls off a sound that's so unique and so distinct compared to rest of the songs off the album, that I wish every track was like that. I was starting to lose faith in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs...and then Gold Lion came out. Possibly, one of the most catchiest alternative singles of today. It reminds of back in the day when Pixies released Where Is My Mind?, and how big that song was back then. Once I heard this I decided to pick up the album. I can't say that I'm blown away by it, but there are some pretty neat/great tracks on this album. But again, it isn't groundbreaking. Although, tracks 1 - 7 completely fit the mood of the album. So let me give you the lowdown..... Song structure - 6.5 Vocals - 8 Guitars - 9 Drums - 6 Overall album production/lyrical content: 3.5/5… Expand
  23. ED209
    Apr 6, 2006
    10
    Hat to disagree, but I find "...Bones" to be much more ambitious than the previous recordings. Sounds are given space to breathe, the buzz-saw guitars that everyone seems to think have dissappeared are still there, only now they are only a part of the overall picture...they wash over dreamy synths, under Karen O.'s voice (Oh, that voice!)... All in all, a far superior effort to Hat to disagree, but I find "...Bones" to be much more ambitious than the previous recordings. Sounds are given space to breathe, the buzz-saw guitars that everyone seems to think have dissappeared are still there, only now they are only a part of the overall picture...they wash over dreamy synths, under Karen O.'s voice (Oh, that voice!)... All in all, a far superior effort to "Fever...", and, aside from the new TVOTR and/or Goldfrapp, the best record of 2006 so far.… Expand
  24. OsakasanK
    Apr 5, 2006
    10
    Jack Johnson? O_o Far from it. Show Your Bones is an absolutely brilliant record that finds the YYY's tightening up their sound and increasing their commercial appeal without compromising the passion and wildness at the core of their best work. Karen O expresses more in a single note than most singer can manage in the course of a whole song; and Nick Zinner is easily one of the best Jack Johnson? O_o Far from it. Show Your Bones is an absolutely brilliant record that finds the YYY's tightening up their sound and increasing their commercial appeal without compromising the passion and wildness at the core of their best work. Karen O expresses more in a single note than most singer can manage in the course of a whole song; and Nick Zinner is easily one of the best guitarists around, avoiding the cliches of rock guitar in favor of far more unconventional and interesting sounds. The songwriting is also far more consistent than their previous album, and that's saying something. This is one of the best albums I've heard this year so far.… Expand
  25. EvanD
    Apr 4, 2006
    10
    This is beautiful.
  26. PaulO
    Apr 4, 2006
    9
    A step-up from Fever To Tell, in terms of songwriting. If the intent of this album was to show that "Maps" wasn't just a fluke, mission accomplished.
  27. HallgeirA
    Apr 3, 2006
    9
    cool. Great
  28. VasSa
    Apr 3, 2006
    10
    ???????? ?????????, ???? ? 2006 ?????? ? ???? ????)
  29. Dave
    Apr 3, 2006
    10
    Great CD, one of the best of the year!
  30. sk
    Apr 2, 2006
    10
    it s better than their debut album. NY is back
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Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Best Album of 2006
51
#51 Most Discussed Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. BBC collective
    80
    Short answer: it’s good.
    Read full review
  2. Billboard
    60
    Much of the material on the quirky "Show Your Bones" is more intimate and, at times, tentative. [1 Apr 2006]
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Show Your Bones picks up where "Maps" left off, with the trio finding a middle ground between self-conscious primitivism and refined pop. [31 Mar 2006, p.60]
See all critic reviews »