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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
It's not unusual for New York bands to take their inspiration from the UK, but TV On The Radio must be one of the few to draw from the artsier side of the British music. Which is why their second album, Return to Cookie Mountain, sounds like something that could have been produced by Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, or David Bowie--and, at its best, all three at the same time. And if there's any doubt as to TOTR's authenticity, then look no further than "Province", which features vocals from Mr Bowie himself. But really, Return to Cookie Mountain doesn't need the validation (though it's nice to have). Yes, it's a slightly wierd album, and probably not to everyone's taste with its feedback-heavy guitars, frenetic and syncopated drums, washes of synths and the eerie vocals of Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe. But from the opener "I Was a Lover", Return to Cookie Mountain is an album that's rich, rewarding and atmospheric. And lest it all seem a bit too pretentious, there are actual tunes here as well: "Wolf Like Me", for example, is a catchy pop song lurking behind all the feedback. Return to Cookie Mountain may not be easy listening, but it is an album well worth listening to. --Ted Kord
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've always been aware of TV On The Radio but, shamefully, have never listened to an album of theirs in earnest until this one, and it's a revelation. I know we're only halfway through 2006, but I was starting to think Ten Silver Drops by Secret Machines could not be beaten in the intelligent, inventive US rock stakes. Well, Return To Cookie Mountain is giving it a run for its money. This album is so rhythmically interesting as much as anything else; haunting, rocky, soulful in a way that comes close to the Afghan Whigs, which is a high compliment, and I also hear shades of the Psychedelic Furs too, which you don't often say, and plenty of early solo Peter Gabriel. Really well worth a listen if you prefer your rock music grown-up, spooky and questioning.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
TV on the Radio gave some serious reinvention to indie rock, with their debut "Desperate Youth Blood Thirsty Babes." Then they sort of dropped off for awhile, apparently to tinker with their future sound.
Well, "Return to Cookie Mountain" is an evolution of what they've done before -- the art-rock sound, the grimy electro, and the rough edges that don't need polishing.This isn't quite "there" enough to be their masterpiece, but TV on the Radio is definitely sounding wonderfully mature.
It starts off with the year's best intro -- drum beats, clashes, and an offbeat horn symphony that cuts itself off, before repeating again. As the jagged electronic beats come on, Tunde Adepimbe begins to croon, "I was a lover/before this war... I'm locked in my bedroom/so send back the clowns..." It's a bittersweet song with a warm, rich feeling.
The closest thing they have to typical rock is the heart-pounding "Wolf Like Me," with its howled bridges and eerie feeling, and the expansive, tinkling, explosive "Playhouses." There's also the rustling, stomping art-rock of "Let the Devil In," the swirling electro-rock, the soul-rock, and the epic bass-rock of the finale "Wash the Day Away."
Don't expect TV on the Radio to really rock out in "Return to Cookie Mountain," since they got recognition for their equally dense debut. The songs that follow are too grandiose, too looped, and too dense to be toe-tappers. The only real flaw is their tendency to sometimes neglect music in place of atmosphere -- although even their failures are fascinating.
And that atmosphere is of a dangerous, beautiful place -- campfires, tribal dances, wild animals and flying over mountains. The repetitive drums, bass and more typical instruments are loaded down with flutes, samples, electronic beats, mellotron, cymbals. It's all tangled into a series of loosely-strung, hypnotic melodies that seem to swirl around on themselves.
But the most hypnotic instrument is the vocals. Adepimbe can be deep and soulful, desperate howls, or higher and soaring; either way, he hasn't got the typical disinterested rock voice. And the jumbled, colourful lyrics are hard to make out at times, and eventually they simple become another repetitive pattern in the music.
TV on the Radio have one-upped themselves with "Return to Cookie Mountain," and yet there's a feeling of unfulfilled promise, hinting that they'll get even better as time goes on.
Well, "Return to Cookie Mountain" is an evolution of what they've done before -- the art-rock sound, the grimy electro, and the rough edges that don't need polishing.This isn't quite "there" enough to be their masterpiece, but TV on the Radio is definitely sounding wonderfully mature.
It starts off with the year's best intro -- drum beats, clashes, and an offbeat horn symphony that cuts itself off, before repeating again. As the jagged electronic beats come on, Tunde Adepimbe begins to croon, "I was a lover/before this war... I'm locked in my bedroom/so send back the clowns..." It's a bittersweet song with a warm, rich feeling.
The closest thing they have to typical rock is the heart-pounding "Wolf Like Me," with its howled bridges and eerie feeling, and the expansive, tinkling, explosive "Playhouses." There's also the rustling, stomping art-rock of "Let the Devil In," the swirling electro-rock, the soul-rock, and the epic bass-rock of the finale "Wash the Day Away."
Don't expect TV on the Radio to really rock out in "Return to Cookie Mountain," since they got recognition for their equally dense debut. The songs that follow are too grandiose, too looped, and too dense to be toe-tappers. The only real flaw is their tendency to sometimes neglect music in place of atmosphere -- although even their failures are fascinating.
And that atmosphere is of a dangerous, beautiful place -- campfires, tribal dances, wild animals and flying over mountains. The repetitive drums, bass and more typical instruments are loaded down with flutes, samples, electronic beats, mellotron, cymbals. It's all tangled into a series of loosely-strung, hypnotic melodies that seem to swirl around on themselves.
But the most hypnotic instrument is the vocals. Adepimbe can be deep and soulful, desperate howls, or higher and soaring; either way, he hasn't got the typical disinterested rock voice. And the jumbled, colourful lyrics are hard to make out at times, and eventually they simple become another repetitive pattern in the music.
TV on the Radio have one-upped themselves with "Return to Cookie Mountain," and yet there's a feeling of unfulfilled promise, hinting that they'll get even better as time goes on.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
TV on the Radio aren't as an immediate band to get into as some reviews might have you believe. I loved their first EP Young Liars but found their debut LP 'Desperate Youth Blood Thirsty Babes' wearyingly oppressive and turgid and two-starred it in an unpopular Amazon review. I have given Return to Cookie Mountain more time, and whereas some of the heavy atmospherics can veer towards pretentious overload, there is more hookiness and focus to this recording. David Bowie is an obvious influence (in particular his underrated Outside) - and the great man himself appears on the excellent 'Province' - but it is fair to say that they have developed a distinctive sound of their own: the grimy, churning guitars, the soulful barbershop harmonies, the cavernous production.
The singular opener 'I Was A Lover', one of the album's best tracks, is also one of the hardest to describe, with its cut and paste aesthetic and falsetto vocal hook. Hours is moody and urban with a hint of Peter Gabriel, but gently swells into alt-rock territory. 'Playhouses' is all heavy distortion and fast-drumming that doesn't hold together as well, while 'Wolf Like Me' is the closest this album has to an anthem, with its melodic refrain of 'Howling... Forever' gradually emerging out of the fog of frenetic guitars. 'A Method' takes their penchant of barbershop harmonising to its most successful extreme while the swashbuckling, raucous 'Let the Devil In' displays the influence of the Pixies and Tom Waits. Dirtywhirl has more crossover appeal while the goth-tinged and darkly propulsive 'Blues From Down Here' could be The Sisters of Mercy. The atmospheric 'Tonight' bears a (probably unwitting) resemblance to prototype shoegazers A.R. Kane, for whom the term Oceanic was coined. The dissapointing closer 'Wash the Day', on the other hand, tries to throw everything into the mix for a climatic finale but is a bit of a mess. Lots to enjoy though, and a step in the right direction.
The singular opener 'I Was A Lover', one of the album's best tracks, is also one of the hardest to describe, with its cut and paste aesthetic and falsetto vocal hook. Hours is moody and urban with a hint of Peter Gabriel, but gently swells into alt-rock territory. 'Playhouses' is all heavy distortion and fast-drumming that doesn't hold together as well, while 'Wolf Like Me' is the closest this album has to an anthem, with its melodic refrain of 'Howling... Forever' gradually emerging out of the fog of frenetic guitars. 'A Method' takes their penchant of barbershop harmonising to its most successful extreme while the swashbuckling, raucous 'Let the Devil In' displays the influence of the Pixies and Tom Waits. Dirtywhirl has more crossover appeal while the goth-tinged and darkly propulsive 'Blues From Down Here' could be The Sisters of Mercy. The atmospheric 'Tonight' bears a (probably unwitting) resemblance to prototype shoegazers A.R. Kane, for whom the term Oceanic was coined. The dissapointing closer 'Wash the Day', on the other hand, tries to throw everything into the mix for a climatic finale but is a bit of a mess. Lots to enjoy though, and a step in the right direction.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not for me
I find it very hard to listen to this CD infact I find it very disapointing as when I first heard the track Wolf Like Me I couldn't wait to get this album. Read more
Published on 1 April 2010 by Stephen
Almost there...
"Dear Science" was one of my favourite albums of 2008, and since then I've collected the rest of TV On The Radio's catalogue. Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2009 by Peter Lee
TOTR is full cream, to Bloc Party's 2% milk
I had heard of TV On The Radio before, and seen them on various critics'lists but I'd never given them a listen until about 3 weeks ago. Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2008 by Cordelia
Absolutely sublime
There haven't been many truly great bands to have appeared this decade where the commercialism of music has been taken to an all time low, but TV On The Radio are certainly one of... Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2007 by TrimmTrabb
Simply Amazing
This Album has to be the best album of 2006, and is the best album i've come across since The Arcade Fire's 'Funeral' album. Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2007 by ModestMouse101
return to cookie mtn
These guys are such an exciting group. On their last album they impressed with crazy production on great songs, leaving high expectations for the future. This album is fantastic. Read more
Published on 23 April 2007 by Robert Maguire
Mountain Top
There is clearly divided opinion about this record. Perhaps somewhere between The Scissor Sisters and Mars Volta, depending on which end of that spectrum you arrive at it from you... Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2007 by Gellit
1 star - you just HAVE to be kidding don't you!
I just don't get the negative feedback for this. I've held off writing a review because it seemed so self-evident to me that this was a good album and I find it difficult to... Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2007 by Mike J. Wheeler
This is a likeable album, but not worthy of all the hype
This is a likeable album, but not worthy of all the hype surrounding it, (in my opinion). The first few tracks are great "I was a Lover" is an awesome opener, leading into some... Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2007 by M. Hamer
'Cookie' unfit for consumption ...
Tempted by the delirious reviews below and the fact that the album was on some of the 'Best of' lists for 2006 in several magazines, I decided to give 'Return to Cookie Mountain' a... Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2007 by L. Yates
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