TV On The Radio

Return To Cookie Mountain

[5/5] Give TV On The Radio credit for refusing to take the easy route on Return To Cookie Mountain. At a time when they’re being touted as the biggest New York breakout band since the Strokes-or at least the Bravery-they chose art, not commerce, on their major-label debut. There are no recognizable singles here; instead, you get designed-to-mesmerize soundscapes built around post-shoegazer guitars, fried-circuitry synths and the eerie vocal interplay of axeman Kyp Malone and singer Tunde Adebimpe. The ambitiousness starts with “I Was A Lover,” which approximates soul-powered trip-hop fucked up on codeined old-jazz. From there, over an incandescent hour, TV On The Radio unleash everything from new-millennium doo-wop (“A Method”) to sax-strafed soft rock (“Wolf Like Me”) to celestial noise-pop (“Province,” featuring mega-fan David Bowie). The ultimate majesty of Return To Cookie Mountain is that it reveals something new with each listen. Yes, the journey is often challenging, but that’s what makes it unforgettable. (INTERSCOPE) Mike Usinger