Fever To Tell ReviewNo band has gone as far vocally and musically as early in their music career as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The band is lead by Karen O’s matchless vocals followed by Nick Zinner’s guitar talent and Brian Chase’s rapidly advancing drumming skills. The three- member band jumped head first into rock n’ roll and created a unique, raw album, Fever To Tell. The album shows just how versatile the band is with both its sound and its ability to express all sorts of emotions through music. Fever To Tell is a great example of what the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s really are and what they are capable of.
Fever To Tell sucks the listener into the raw lust- life of Rock n’ Roll. The album kicks off with “Rich” and “Date With the Night,” which gives the listener a taste of Karen O’s sassy attitude and vocal abilities. The two songs introduce the story of a girl seeking out and seducing the men of the city and, eventually, hooking one as expressed in “Man” when Karin O sings, “I got a man who makes me wanna kill” and “ I got a man who makes me wanna die.” As the album continues, Karen O sings more about the wild, physical relationship in “Tick,” “Hot,” “Pin,” and “Cold Night.” She doesn’t hold back with her sexual references and descriptions in the lyrics of the songs. In “Tick” she sings, “You take your time… You take it Lets have a look.” In “Hot” she sings “I wanna see you shake,” and “Pin” she sings, “I lost my seat again Well I’ll go, I’ll go, Pushin in the pin… I like to sleep with him,” and finally in “Cold Night” when she sings, “Be my heater be my lover and we could do it to each other Go go go Ride daddy ride.” Karen sings the lyrics with a tune but she also uses her unique squealing, howling and growling ability to add flair to the songs.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs seductively take the listener in one direction and then abruptly yank them in the opposite, nearly causing whiplash. The album convinces the listener into thinking the relationship the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are portraying is purely physical but, in actuality, there is love. It’s as if the album is saying you can’t merely ‘fuck around’ and not accumulate any feelings. This is slightly suggested in “No No No” when Karen sings, “he’ll never come back he’s the man you loved,” but the real emotion—the heart- sinking- into- your- stomach, and crying- yourself- to- sleep, and eating-endless- amounts- of- chocolate- ice- cream, and not- knowing- what- to- do- with- yourself kind of emotion—that all comes catapulting towards the listener in “Maps.” It is quieter than the other songs on the album but still has a Rock n’ Roll feel to it. In the song, the vocals become more subdued as Karen O pleads and cries the notes. Even though she isn’t growling and screaming, the emotion is still present in her voice, which shows how multitalented Karen O is. The song also shows how the band has truly grown together when Zinner’s guitar softly works with Karen O’s voice and Chase’s drums set the beat for the heart- wrenching song. “Maps” is a great example of the bands various capabilities.
The same talent continues from “Maps” into “Y- Control” with a smooth transition which is worth noting. The same love conflicts are expressed when Karen sings, “Oh so all my lovin go’s,” but love is most beautifully, tastefully and artistically expressed in the last song on the album, “Modern Romance.” The song is very different from all the others on the album. Its slower beat, quiet and smooth sound, and clearly stated lyrics shows a soft side to both the band and to this story that has been portrayed throughout the album. In the lyrics Karen sings, “Well I was wrong It never lasts There is no This is no modern romance.” She says how you can have a Rock n’ Roll relationship full of wild sex, without falling in love. This idea of having a “modern romance” or hot purely physical relationship without love or any strings attached does not exist and can’t exist. It’s as if the song is expressing how this love has spoiled the relationship and how it does nothing but complicate things; but that’s not the end. After a minute break in the song- as if time has gone by and the storyteller has reflected (artistic genius!)- a hidden track starts and its like the window into the story tellers soul. The songs lyrics present a more vulnerable side of the character as she blatantly says, “Baby I’m afraid of a lot of things But I ain’t scared of loving you,” and the album closes with the last line, “Well I may be just a fool But I know were just as cool And cool kids they belong together.” The song finishes with the realization that there is love and that the relationship was good and can still be good even with love. The seven- minute song is the icing on the cake. Its structure and instrument- vocal coordination is mature and calm, and yet, still true to the band.
The bands talent and unique spunk is evident not only in the album but in Fever To Tell’s booklet. The crazy collogue artwork in the booklet is very Rock n’ Roll and also expressive. It shows the band with their heads on fire caught in a web of red string surrounded by city scenery and snakes. The cover is mysterious, yet captivating and is an excellent cover that is true to the band and the album.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs really kicked off their carrier with Fever To Tell. The album shows nothing but good talent. The album’s story is conveyed and expressed well by Karen O, Nick Zinner, and Brian Chase. The trio’s ability to make all their talents apparent and compatible shows how promising their success will be. The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Fever To Tell gets four and a half stars from Gracie’s Music Review Café.
