The third full-length album by the transcendent alternative pop band The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “It’s Blitz!” (2009) emerges with its entertaining synthesized-driven music, brilliant guitar, and lead singer Karen O’s tempered yet honeyed voice. Produced by TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek and Talking Heads’ Nick Launay, “It’s Blitz!” differs from The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ gritty and fevered previous albums, although O’s unbridled and earnest sound and the innovative and high quality of the band’s instrumentation still remains.
The album begins with the vivacious and emphatic “Zero.” It has a throbbing guitar line with an immediate and charged dance floor melody. Fast tempos and adrenaline-pumping beats follow in “Heads Will Roll,” reminding us of O’s jagged and insistent vocals.
Alternatively, there are some softer, mellower tracks. A gentler sound resonates with “Soft Shock.” The electronic beats surround O’s impeccable voice as she pleads: “It’s the time, it’s the place, don’t leave me out,” and the tremulous synthesized cadence in “Skeletons” enhances O’s ability to create a wistful, demure sound.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ choice of track order works in their favor. The turbulent rhythm and O’s achy heartfelt voice in “Dull Life” perfectly introduces the next song, “Shame and Fortune,” which continues the stormy, guitar-driven beat. After is the eerie “Runaway,” haunting in its threatening and possessive lyrics: “Run, run, run away/ No sense of time/ Like you to stay, want you to be my prize,” spooking its listener but highlighting O’s control of her words and sound.
My only complaint is “Dragon Queen.” Its discomfort and inability to emphasize anyone’s talent makes it my least favorite on “It’s Blitz!” After “Dragon Queen,” The Yeah Yeah Yeahs end positively with three more tracks that each slow down the pace, sedating the album’s intensity. The electro-rock of “Hysteric” creates a dreamy, light mood. O chimes wonderingly, “Flow sweetly, hang heavy/ You suddenly complete me.” The gauzy “Hysteric” intoxicates the listener, and the last track, “Little Shadow” anti-climactically ends the album. It feels like a sublime lullaby, sort of what you would sing to quiet a troubled infant, featuring Imaas Wasif on acoustic guitar and showing off O’s knowing and soothing voice.
    “It’s Blitz!” provides a lasting effect for albums coming out in 2009. Unconventional in its sound, it appeals to those of us who look for raw, endearing music with lots of personality and character. Known for their energetic and thriving music, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs push all of their power and passion effectively into “It’s Blitz!”

4.5/5 Wooves