Summary:The fifth full-length studio release for the indie rock band is its first since the death of bassist Gerald Smith and was produced by guitarist David Sitek.
The band have shed the Most-Important-Band-In-the-World-For-Try-Hard-Twenty-Something-Hipsters image of their earlier career and are now just making effortlessly good, effortlessly cool music.
Seeds reflects a band unconcerned with challenging its listeners this time and more interested in delivering a complete collection of competent, mark-bearing songs for the sake of proudly stating the existence of TV On The Radio in 2014.
Seeds will most certainly grow on you, no doubt. There's the undeniable groove of TVotR combined with a refreshed feeling. Like when you giveSeeds will most certainly grow on you, no doubt. There's the undeniable groove of TVotR combined with a refreshed feeling. Like when you give something a lot of thought and decide with absolute certainty this is where you want to be and exactly what you want to do.…Expand
A beautiful journey into heartache and loss, that ends up in a triumphant note. Cynical people would probably say that the fact that this isA beautiful journey into heartache and loss, that ends up in a triumphant note. Cynical people would probably say that the fact that this is probably the most commercial record of TVOTR is a bad thing, but this is just a band trying to deal with their inner demons in the most direct and honest way they can. Even with all the sadness of some songs, It's impossible not to smile after hearing Seeds. Another great record from one of the most consistent bands of the past ten years.…Expand
Not a bad song on this album. Is it as good as Dear Science? No. But I think it is better than Nine Types of Light. There is a great feelingNot a bad song on this album. Is it as good as Dear Science? No. But I think it is better than Nine Types of Light. There is a great feeling of optimism on this record. The high point for me is "Lazerray" and "Trouble", but I enjoyed all the tracks. This will be one of the top albums of 2014 for me.…Expand
An album that shows maturity and growth into some kind of new understanding of what they're able to do. Every song is worthy multiple listens,An album that shows maturity and growth into some kind of new understanding of what they're able to do. Every song is worthy multiple listens, and all are capable of inducing a good scream along with the chorus/…Expand
I like this album better than Nine Types of Light. For lack of a better word, it's more accessible - less experimental with a little more ofI like this album better than Nine Types of Light. For lack of a better word, it's more accessible - less experimental with a little more of a pop sound with more hooks, and it works as a coherent album.…Expand
TVOTR, in the past going just slightly south of the mainstream indie scene, and landing somewhere between obscure and commercial, have made anTVOTR, in the past going just slightly south of the mainstream indie scene, and landing somewhere between obscure and commercial, have made an album that confirms the commercial slant that its predecessor leaned toward.
Not that it's something to get pretentious about. It's just that an album with these goals in mind should deliver some soaring anthems or should have some gravity, some bounce, or some itchiness scratchy catchy-ness, and these moments are often sparse. Should we even desire it a melancholic album, it doesn't manage to lull us enough to manage that either.
The singles have been promising, Happy Idiot being the epitome of catchy pop indie rock, with a slightly darker edge than your average radio friendly tune. Careful You on the other hand, is a gorgeous synth-pop fueled piece of heaven. There are other promising moments too, from the touching Test Pilot, to the hard rock of Lazarray, to the deep and electronic backdrop of Seeds, the album closer.
But a lot of the album feels blunt. Ride starts with promise, but never really lifts off. Could You is an attempt at achieving commercial appeal, but feels tired and doesn't offer anything unique (commercially driven music can still have flair, as Careful You shows). The album feels interesting in its varied use of styles, but all of the best styles seem to be sampled for one or two tracks, while the dead ones weigh down on the majority of the album's core.…Expand
This album is not as good as their previous ones. With the exception of "Careful You" and "Happy Idiot" this album is a long boring effort.This album is not as good as their previous ones. With the exception of "Careful You" and "Happy Idiot" this album is a long boring effort. Reminds me of that feeling when I was a kid in the car to some far destination "Are we there yet?" I get the same feeling from this album "Is it Over yet?" Maybe they should have done some editing and deleted a couple of the songs. Seriously though, not recommended.…Expand
