We’re split on which half of the title is more appropriate…
[Video][Website]
[5.00]
W.B. Swygart: You know how Akon occasionally sounds like his despair is the most urgent, mortality-inducing despair that he or anyone has ever experienced? This nearly sounds a little bit like that on the chorus, and that only makes me wish Akon was on it instead, cos this could really use a total loss of perspective.
[4]
Cédric Le Merrer: I hadn’t anticipated Tunde Adebimpe’s singing to become the weak link in an otherwise great TVOTR song. Maybe it’s his stints as indie movie actor that have taught him to dial his performances down? Obviously, the voice not being doubled like it was on all their early songs doesn’t help. Whatever’s the reason, he’s listless through a song that would have called for despair and anger.
[7]
Micha Cavaseno: Maybe she left you because you’ve become quite stagnant and boring fam. Like, look here… sit down a sec. *puts on the “Wolf Like Me” video* Remember that? Yeah, of course you do, you’ve gotten a bit sick of people saying “OH WOW, REMEMBER THIS SONG AND THAT SONG?!?” sure. But look, listen to that weird beat, the way you guys used to sing like you meant it, that bridge. THAT BRIDGE THO. Sorry, I’ll leave the Vine humor out of it… But it’s like this TOTR, when she met you, you were fun! Exciting! You talked a big game! Sure, everybody gets stiff knees when they get older, and you’ve really had a rough go these last few years. But remember, we came to you because you’d reach out as far as you could go! This is the kind of song you easily could’ve done back in 2002, and you’re better than that!
[1]
Brad Shoup: Sure enough, it’s direct as hell, from the glumly catchy alt-rock strummage to the “Hot N Cold” drums. Like every terrible high-school presentation, TVOTR begin with what they’re gonna tell you and close with what they’ve told you. They’ve always been dodgy with the lyrics, so the retreat to the ruefully laconic is both canny and kind of a relief. This feels like a bid for the attention of a rock radio that doesn’t really exist anymore, which is the worthiest kind of stupidity I know.
[8]
Alfred Soto: The boringest drum machine in the world over lyrics and singing that don’t know whether to court irony or stay serious. Other than Dear Science these guys have meant nothing to me; without their funny sounds they’re a second-rate college music station band. I mean, so are these guys, but they realize their concept. Imagine Matchbox 20 produced by Dave Sitek.
[4]
Jonathan Bogart: Presses some New Order buttons I didn’t realize I would like pressed. There may not be too much more to it than that, but sometimes that’s enough.
[7]
Patrick St. Michel: TV on the Radio turned into a remarkably bland indie rock band pretty quietly, huh?
[4]