The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed
Any interest in these folks? I saw them open for the Dirtbombs on Saturday; if the singer had managed to stop laughing for more than a second or two it would have been better maybe. But maybe not quite as much fun.

Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 26 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

their name really, really, REALLY bothers me.

really.

jess, Tuesday, 26 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

and greil "slobbery elvis blowjob" marcus thinks they're "too tough", but he's a pussy anyway, as any fule kno.

jess, Tuesday, 26 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

ilove em to pieces. they are a fun band to watch play, and the E.P. is quite decent. the lead singer is supposively this really rich artist or something like that who wanted to sing in a band. she has a weird style of dress but everyone loves it. i personally hate it when girls rock legwarmers. and cut off sweatshirts. bleg.

Brock K., Tuesday, 26 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

i want to see them. do they append "yeah" to everything they say? just curious. i saw an album by them called "yeah new york". "yeah new york" vs "no new york" fite!

geeta, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

When i saw them they sounded like Siouxsie and the Banshees using Sonic Youth samples. It's very "of an era" sound and style. And I liked the Dirtbombs better. But I went in expecting nothing, and had the same feeling about their name as jess so I was surprised to find myself enjoying it. (they've got a better name than the 2nd opener, "Speedball Baby", who I was told did the Jon Spencer thing before Jon Spencer did, um, great) And I was charmed by how they all hung around after the show sort of giggling around their T-shirt table. Okay yeah, I think she's cute.

Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

They're certainly generating a lot of frothing praise, but I'm still not convinced. I think their vocalist is the weakest link of the mix, and thusly they become crap (same with The Takers, if anyone's familiar with them....and no, doing Stranglers and Killing Joke covers won't save a band from having a crap vocalist.) The Yeah Yeah Yeah's also suffer from bad lyrics, but then -- I've only heard two songs I downloaded off their website. So far, I say: No No No to them.

Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

how were the dirtbombs? I've seen em a couple of times and was never really blown away, but it's been a while.

fritz, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Have they been around a long time or summat? I dunno; my roomie got their 2nd album (all covers) a month or so ago and it's grown on me like ivy. I've seen Mick play before, with Blacktop, and this show didn't quite have the same desperate attack, but they came out like naturals. Every song was really blistering and hot, but there's something more solid and confident and deep about them. They erased my memory of the Detroit Cobras. Mick's voice was great, he looked like he'd gained 40 pounds (a good thing in his case) and they were all boppin all over the stage. I hear that Mick wants to do an album of bubblegum, covered in his own inimitable style. I can't wait to hear it.

Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I saw them when they were just starting out, maybe 5 yrs ago - might be an entirely different lineup than now even - and they were supposedly going for a swell maps art-punk thing but it was just sludgey and unfocussed. I don't think they'd really figured out how to use the 2 basses without letting the bottom end overwhlem everything at that point. I saw them again a couple of years ago and I think I was just distracted and didn't give them a fair listen.

I think I was just disappointed both times because I love the Blacktop and Gories stuff and kind of unfairly resented the Dirtbombs for not being either of those bands.

fritz, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Well NO ONE can top the Gories; you have to make your peace with that. But they were very focused, not "arty" at all, in fact I have no idea what this could mean in the context of their music which is very hardrockin soul covers with zero "cuteness" thrown in a la the YYYs. They were like the art school antidote.

Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

zero "cuteness" thrown in a la the YYYs

Whats wrong with cute? And how is it cute?

Brock K., Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I didn't think much of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' performance in DC last week. The lead singer largely substitutes the vocal mannerisms of Annie Lennox and Chrissie Hynde for any individual interpretation. If you want good neogarage rock, look to the Mooney Suzuki.

And I already disliked this reviewer (not for any good reasons), but it rather staggers me that he could have given this band so favorable a review.

j.lu, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Oh horrors, I didn't mean to suggest that there's anything wrong with cute! I was just trying to dispel fritz's "art-punk" description of the Dirtbombs by contrasting them with the YYYs, who are "art-punk" THRU and THRU. They're cute because a) the lead singer is cute and wears crazy clothes b) the guitar player has enormous permed hair c) they play music that the girls i thought were cute in high school listened to and d) like i said, they giggle a lot. I like all these things.

Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

saw them in dc. a little disappointed inthat i wanted to hear karen scream her gutts out on art star. but i adore them. the look, the lyrics the sound.

kleight, Wednesday, 27 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Do not let the Mooney Suzuki pass you buy. They're like the JSBX, but with tighter songs (and better outfit co-ordination - all black, all the time). They're featured on the SXSW MTV blurb (along w/ the shot, I believe, of the Icarus Line cat breaking the glass case holding Stevie Ray Vaughn's guitar @ their Hard Rock Cafe appearance); get into them before they're too popular to like!

Daver, Thursday, 28 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

one year passes...
You know what? After quite liking the first single, thinking the second was passable, I REALLY HATE THEM.

Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Monday, 28 April 2003 11:32 (twenty years ago) link

After being wishy washy on the first single, thinking the second was somewhat better, I REALLY LOVE THEM.

paul cox (paul cox), Monday, 28 April 2003 11:47 (twenty years ago) link

After many listens I pretty much like the YYYs EP now. Saw them live and they were great, much better than on rec.

Monkeys win though. Ooooh look, there's an ickle baba monkey too!

mei (mei), Monday, 28 April 2003 13:02 (twenty years ago) link

Monkeys win though

Yes, they do. Yes, they do.

Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Monday, 28 April 2003 13:07 (twenty years ago) link

greil "slobbery elvis blowjob" marcus

Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 April 2003 13:11 (twenty years ago) link

i still like them a load more than i'd figured, somehow. probably even more than any of those other buzz bandz.

if that means anything.

brian badword (badwords), Monday, 28 April 2003 13:17 (twenty years ago) link

i guess that doesn't mean anything really.

i listen to the album regularly, sitting here nerding around on the comp.

brian badword (badwords), Monday, 28 April 2003 13:30 (twenty years ago) link

so this is what it would be like to enjoy the Blues Explosion?
prefer it much better this way = as fronted by Lydia Lunch

nice nod to ESG in "Tick"

Paul (scifisoul), Monday, 28 April 2003 15:28 (twenty years ago) link

That "FITE" picture is fucking killing me. Oh my god.

I enjoy the Blues Explosion.

Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 28 April 2003 15:30 (twenty years ago) link

finally heard a YYYs song for the first time last night. I'll be damned if I can remember a thing about it, tho.

hstencil, Monday, 28 April 2003 15:31 (twenty years ago) link

haha i forgot about that

i like the yyy's okay now (the album has real moments but is too samey overall). name still bothers me tho.

jess (dubplatestyle), Monday, 28 April 2003 15:35 (twenty years ago) link

Death to rock (I don't know why a Yeah Yeah Yeahs thread makes me say this, but it does).

Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 28 April 2003 15:50 (twenty years ago) link

they're much slower than i thought they would be

jess (dubplatestyle), Monday, 28 April 2003 15:52 (twenty years ago) link

billy squier to jack white's page - this album roxxxx! "Man" is "The Stroke 2k3" or maybe "Still of the Night 2k3" - either way, roxxxxxxxx! "Tick"'s so good I thought it was a cover!

James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 28 April 2003 17:31 (twenty years ago) link

one year passes...
I am reviving this because, as I've said before, "Maps" is just staggeringly, amazingly brilliant from start to finish.

VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:25 (nineteen years ago) link

i have not gotten sick of this song which is amazing

kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:30 (nineteen years ago) link

The album in its entirety remains outstanding. I finally got to see them live last month. whhooot.

CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:32 (nineteen years ago) link

I finally bought the EP (when it came out I thought it was just the Johanna Spencer Blues Explosion and cared not). I still don't like it as much as the album but it's good.

CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:32 (nineteen years ago) link

You don't love them like I love them.

M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:34 (nineteen years ago) link

yeah? oh yeah? well scroll down this page a little before the half-way point for proof that there are NONE MORE SAPPY about Fever To Tell than I.

CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:38 (nineteen years ago) link

im shaking my head at you guys

Sir Chaki McBeer III (chaki), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:42 (nineteen years ago) link

karen has dedicated maps to me and my girlfriend on several occasions *swoons*

stevie (stevie), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:52 (nineteen years ago) link

i think as a 'rock' band they're unconvincing but yeah the drippy alt-prom ballads are great!

g--ff (gcannon), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:52 (nineteen years ago) link

i am strangely enraptured by the extra little drum bit at about 1:42 into 'maps'. it's the little things...

mookieproof (mookieproof), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:54 (nineteen years ago) link

ironically the only part of the video I don't like is that slow motion shot of a cymbal post-crash.

CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:57 (nineteen years ago) link

i hate life

Sir Chaki McBeer III (chaki), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:59 (nineteen years ago) link

i'm in the video.

lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:59 (nineteen years ago) link

oh, and that one guy with the buzz cut and goatee leaning on something and visibly "diggin' it."

my fave part is either when Karen does a slow butter churn while crying or when I try to figure out which person in the audience is Lauren.

(x-post!)

CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 26 August 2004 17:59 (nineteen years ago) link

SHE LIVED. SHE DIED. SHE WAS IN THE VIDEO FOR "MAPS."

CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 26 August 2004 18:00 (nineteen years ago) link

My third sentence will be HE LIKED GOOD CHARLOTTE.

CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 26 August 2004 18:04 (nineteen years ago) link

Elvis T. said the new songs were really good live. I didn't have the EP when I saw them so now I'm not sure how many new songs they played and how many were just from that. Anybody else heard 'em?

CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 26 August 2004 18:13 (nineteen years ago) link

i'm in the video.

i dont' really "get" this video. I feel like it is supposed to be conveying something to me beyond the fact that it's just a really false staged lip-synch. maybe I'm thinking about it too much.

kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 26 August 2004 18:14 (nineteen years ago) link

The new video is for "Y Control," directed by Spike "ADAM, MY LOVE!" Jonze. I cannot wait.

CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 26 August 2004 18:15 (nineteen years ago) link

Also I am seeing them on Monday. MONDAY! YAY!

\(^o\) (/o^)/ (ENBB), Saturday, 26 September 2009 03:44 (fourteen years ago) link

one year passes...

ha okay, so I hated them except for "Maps" until It's Blitz! came out

I'm now going back and yeah, I love them now unreservedly

now I have to imagine your penis (DJP), Monday, 29 August 2011 16:47 (twelve years ago) link

all of their albums have been really good imho. very fun live too

gold lion is especially awesome

prego, Monday, 29 August 2011 16:51 (twelve years ago) link

was listening to them last night, they're def still very awesome

J0rdan S., Monday, 29 August 2011 16:52 (twelve years ago) link

they were my "favorite band" for a while and yeah they're great

my Sonicare toothbrush (difficult listening hour), Monday, 29 August 2011 16:53 (twelve years ago) link

Date With the Night still gets me riled up (in a good way) like few other songs from the last 10 years.

Johnny Fever, Monday, 29 August 2011 16:54 (twelve years ago) link

know they're doing fine and everything but feel like critics were undeservedly hedging about them after they stopped being OMG NEW YORK TRASH RETURN OF ROCK OMG

my Sonicare toothbrush (difficult listening hour), Monday, 29 August 2011 16:55 (twelve years ago) link

not that i have done a comprehensive survey of YYYs reviews so i guess i just mean "i think show your bones should have received a higher score from pitchfork"

my Sonicare toothbrush (difficult listening hour), Monday, 29 August 2011 16:56 (twelve years ago) link

my memory is they (imho unfairly) took a bunch of shit for their second album and then gained some begrudging respect for not subsequently disappearing and instead continuing to make solid, largely under-the-radar records

I don't think It's Blitz! can be fairly described as "under the radar"

now I have to imagine your penis (DJP), Monday, 29 August 2011 17:00 (twelve years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpiGsMkQd2c

always loved letterman's transparent crush on karen/refusal to let go of her hand at the end here

my Sonicare toothbrush (difficult listening hour), Monday, 29 August 2011 17:00 (twelve years ago) link

OMG NEW YORK TRASH RETURN OF ROCK OMG

Honestly this angle of celebration was a large part of why I never liked them at the time (see also Strokes). Every time rock 'returns' now I want to beat everyone involved over the head with a 2 by 4.

Ned Raggett, Monday, 29 August 2011 17:02 (twelve years ago) link

I don't think It's Blitz! can be fairly described as "under the radar"

I didn't think any of the singles charted at all, did they...?

that's a weird metric by which to measure the yeah yeah yeahs

J0rdan S., Monday, 29 August 2011 17:11 (twelve years ago) link

they played SNL during it's blitz promo

J0rdan S., Monday, 29 August 2011 17:11 (twelve years ago) link

pretty sure they were on the cover of SPIN

J0rdan S., Monday, 29 August 2011 17:12 (twelve years ago) link

glee did 'heads will roll' in their post super bowl episode also

balls, Monday, 29 August 2011 17:15 (twelve years ago) link

didn't know any of that, but the glee thing seems like the most significant real crossover/exposure moment of those listed to me. I can't remember the last time I even SAW the cover of SPIN magazine lol

Show Your Bones charted in the US at 11, "Maps" made the Billboard Hot 100 (lol 87), It's Blitz charted in the US at 22.

for what that's worth

I didn't like the first EP and album much, liked the second one enough, and love It's Blitz!, and even the last one can't sustain the awesomeness of "Heads Will Roll" and "Zero."

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 29 August 2011 17:23 (twelve years ago) link

waht

I couldn't disagree more, I think IB is a building crescendo up through "Dragon Queen" and my favorite stretch of the album is "Dull Life" through "Runaway"

now I have to imagine your penis (DJP), Monday, 29 August 2011 17:25 (twelve years ago) link

The middle section draaags.

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 29 August 2011 17:26 (twelve years ago) link

you should start the album from "Dull Life" and see if it actually drags there or if it's "Skeletons" and "Soft Shock"

now I have to imagine your penis (DJP), Monday, 29 August 2011 17:30 (twelve years ago) link

I hold "Zero" as probably the best single of the past 5 years or so. Such. A. Fucking. Jam. The first EP might still be my favorite, though, only bcz I was soooooo into it around the time it came out and I never bothered to listen to the first album when they released it.

Cass McCars (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 29 August 2011 17:33 (twelve years ago) link

"Skeletons" probably. "Shame and Fortune" doesn't move me either, killer riff aside.

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 29 August 2011 17:33 (twelve years ago) link

That's weird. I still think the first LP is their best moment, but I generally like their whole catalog.

Johnny Fever, Monday, 29 August 2011 17:34 (twelve years ago) link

"Dull Life" is probably my favorite song on the album, rivaled by "Runaway" and "Dragon Queen"

"Zero" and "Heads Will Roll" are great but there is something about the other three that just clicks for me in a way that those two don't.

now I have to imagine your penis (DJP), Monday, 29 August 2011 17:35 (twelve years ago) link

I hold "Zero" as probably the best single of the past 5 years or so.

^^^ me on "Heads Will Roll." The middle section is so pretty ("Looking glass....") that if I created a dance remix I'd repeat it and the scratchy guitar riff into infinity.

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 29 August 2011 17:35 (twelve years ago) link

"Zero" is definitely when they finally worked for me. "Heads Will Roll" is...okay?

Ned Raggett, Monday, 29 August 2011 17:40 (twelve years ago) link

I love how the synth riff at the start is a variation on standard early nineties techno motif; and of course the spin on "Blue Monday" on the guitar.

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 29 August 2011 17:43 (twelve years ago) link

I love the melody in "Dull Life" so much; if "Zero" and "Heads Will Roll" made me pay attention, "Dull Life" is what won my heart

now I have to imagine your penis (DJP), Monday, 29 August 2011 17:46 (twelve years ago) link

I hold "Zero" as probably the best single of the past 5 years or so. Such. A. Fucking. Jam.

i think there is a decent case to be made for this! one of the best sneaky "oh here's the SECOND awesome hook" songs ever.

call all destroyer, Monday, 29 August 2011 17:51 (twelve years ago) link

anyway hopefully history looks kindly on the yyy's because the navigation of the 2000s from ultimate nyc buzz band to respected mid-level act that puts out good albums and fills big venues is pretty remkarable.

call all destroyer, Monday, 29 August 2011 17:53 (twelve years ago) link

THEIR navigation

call all destroyer, Monday, 29 August 2011 17:53 (twelve years ago) link

"hysteric" still makes me weak in the knees a little

zsa zsa and digweed (donna rouge), Monday, 29 August 2011 20:46 (twelve years ago) link

^^^

J0rdan S., Monday, 29 August 2011 20:48 (twelve years ago) link

I hated on It's Blitz at first but my wife really liked it and kept playing it around the house ... now I like it a lot

stuff off the first album like "Pin" is still my favorite of theirs though

dmr, Monday, 29 August 2011 20:56 (twelve years ago) link

I *loved* the debut but the follow-up never grew on me, and I lost interest at that point. Not even sure I heard their last one... Oh look, it's on Spotify. ;-)

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 02:00 (twelve years ago) link

Softshock just came up on shuffle yesterday and totally reminded me how much I love that album. For me they improved slightly with each album but I do really like all three a lot.

I hope there is a new album on the way.

Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 02:06 (twelve years ago) link

five years pass...

It's Blitz! > Show Your Bones > Fever To Tell >>> Mosquito

The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Thursday, 20 July 2017 10:01 (six years ago) link

three years pass...

Happy 20 years, YYYs!

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CFqMR-aBug_/?igshid=l3m422yo19pa

Roz, Monday, 28 September 2020 08:10 (three years ago) link

YYYs being 20 years old is giving me strong "shit I'm old" feels today

Just a few slices of apple, Servant. Thank you. How delicious. (stevie), Monday, 28 September 2020 09:13 (three years ago) link

seven months pass...

I've never been super into this band, but I recently stumbled onto this live show and I think it's a truly great performance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNzs6Q50GnI

longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Thursday, 6 May 2021 03:15 (two years ago) link

It’s interesting they’re still technically around, tweeting actively (“#ShowYourBones is 15 today!”, etc.). Their last album was so long ago. I guess some bands are like that.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) stan (morrisp), Thursday, 6 May 2021 06:16 (two years ago) link

Nick zinner was really great.

candyman, Thursday, 6 May 2021 07:05 (two years ago) link

Ah I remember seeing them in small venues in Paris circa the first album. They were great. Kinda lost track after that and surprised they are still active.

AlXTC from Paris, Thursday, 6 May 2021 08:25 (two years ago) link

This was the final single and it was a great way to go out if they never do anything else again, seemed to sum up everything i ever liked about them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvrjn_pF9tY

piscesx, Thursday, 6 May 2021 10:57 (two years ago) link

last album was a dud but "sacrilege" was a great single

intern at pepe le pew research (Simon H.), Thursday, 6 May 2021 12:16 (two years ago) link


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.