Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Mosquito

American indie band Yeah Yeah Yeahs have released their newest album Mosquito – their first in four years – but the record lacks real bite.

With the exception of their hit single and a few other noteworthy numbers, the album becomes progressively less interesting as songs play out, with lyrics that lack depth and a repetitiveness that encourages the listener to skip to the next track. 

Despite some major limitations, the positive elements of the album are unspoiled: catchy and echoing attitude, Sacrilege is the perfect opening as anticipation grows with the recognition of a more popular hit and the off-centre tone of the album is introduced.  The accompanying chorus is harmonious and the irony of a gospel choir singing “it’s sacrilege, sacrilege, sacrilege you say” cannot be overlooked. 

The sound of travelling train carts laid under the melody, set to the pace of a beating heart, stimulatingly creates the mood for Subway.  The mundane subject matter is vocalised by Karen O in the fieriest fashion and leaves the listener lusting with lines like “I got off on you”.  Slow-paced and steadily building drama, her words call out like the song of a siren, drawing you in.  

But midway through the record, the monotony of each chorus and semi-altered verse becomes painstakingly apparent.  However, the vocals and acoustic elements from the trio are fairly successful in delaying this realisation from setting in.  Nick Zinner’s guitar chords on Slave carry the number, which barely incorporates two different verses.  You can hear the effect his effervescent riffs add to the mix, keeping you swaying for the rest of the song.

Surprisingly, the album’s title track, Mosquito, while upbeat, strikes a nerve from the moment the nonsensical lyrics are sung.  It seems as if there is supposed to be a deeper meaning to her words, but it’s difficult to interpret with lines like “were you itching when they called your name?” The underlying buzzing tone does little to relieve this irritation. The word “always” in the song of the same name is repeated 24 times consecutively in the first 40 seconds of the intro, and 48 times overall. The monotony of hearing that one word quickly loses its appeal and the message of the track is lost.    

Although seemingly random at first, you do appreciate how disorderly the album is with every listen. 

Natasha Fonseka

Mosquito is released on 15^th April 2013. For further information or to order the album visit the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ website here.

Watch the video for Sacrilege here