Music Review: TV on the Radio

Rarely do the words "good music" and "radio" end up in the same sentence, but we'll make an exception for art-rock quintet TV on the Radio and their latest release, Return to Cookie Mountain (Interscope). From its first jarring beats, this album thrusts a bold collage of noise into your face and dares you to look away. Their sound--a brawny mix of guitars, synths, drum machines and haunting layered vocals--may take a little getting used to. But what this album lacks in immediate accessibility, it more than makes up for in dazzling originality.

Part of producer and electronics-whiz David Sitek's brilliance is his ability to create songs that simultaneously sound rough and refined. This is especially apparent on "Dirtywhirl," where scuzzy guitars meet jingling bells and bowed string bass. Return to Cookie Mountain reaches its peak on "A Method," where a simple intro of whistling and handclaps gives way to rolling, spiritual-sounding vocal melodies and an all-out assault of synthesized drums. Even with a couple of disappointing tracks, this record is a refreshing burst of creativity from a young band on the rise.