Cougar Microbes

Legendary Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O has a very special place in my Cougar heart so when I found out she has taken on the Jackass theme tune I knew I was going to love it.

Her version of ‘If You’re Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough‘ sounds like it wouldnt be out of place on the next Karen O and The Kids outing and the fun feeling that ecompases the recording is positively infectious.

TRACKS:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs flirtation with synth-pop was one of the talking points of 2009. Seemingly everyone (with the possible exception of the Pope) praised the bands metamorphosis from angry art-rockers to dance floor conquerors.

It is hard to disagree with this assessment as ‘It’s Blitz‘ is superb. The decision to sacrifice Nick Zinner‘s guitars in favour of a catalogue of synth sounds has not meant abandoning the emotional strengths of their music. Rather, the occasions the guitar does make an appearance are always measured and powerful.

Karen O offers up cool as fuck attitude exorcising her inner Rizzo; complete with a leather coat emblazoned with the legendary KO initials. The lack of the habitual jangly guitars means it is up to her to create the sparks and she seems to cherish the opportunity. One minute she is intimately crooning and the next she is screaming like a banshee yet at no point are her theatrics at the expense of the tracks.

Perhaps the true strong point of this release is how well it works as an album. There is no denying that tracks like ‘Zero‘ and ‘Heads Will Roll‘ have “single material” written all over them but It’s Blitz is best enjoyed as a meandering collection of  sparsely interlinked tracks, paced ideally to enjoy its numerous highlights.

Consider this a major statement of intent from a band who were willing to try a new direction and were rewarded for their cojones.

I have to mention the soundtrack for ‘Where The Wild Things Are’ considering Karen O And The Kids featured Brian Chase and Nick Zinner side by side yet again with the enigmatic singer. These songs sound like songs written by children for adults and then performed by adults for children.

The album’s fairytale exuberance is infectious and and Karen O may well have penned one of the last great releases of the last decade.

TRACKS:

Yeah Yeah Yeah’s – Dull Life

Karen O & The Kids – All Is Love

NEXT: #02 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: Birdy Nam Nam – Manual For Successful Rioting

PREVIOUS: #04 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix