Shortly after the release of Nine Types of Light in 2011, TV on the Radio’s bassist Gerard Smith passed away after a brief battle with lung cancer. Now several years later, TV on the Radio have delivered Seeds, which is in many ways a eulogy to Smith, expressing the band’s collective overcoming and acceptance of his loss.
Death is an unwanted variable that causes bands to traverse an abyss of emotion that (more often than not) adds a dimension of dark dreary undertones to the group’s style, which for better or worse, leaves a new impression on their sound. These influences surface regularly throughout Seeds. Several tracks, while seemingly tied to the loss of a lover, can be translated as lead singer Tunde Adebimpe’s personal struggle with Smith’s loss. But where most groups drown in their own sorrowful descent, TV on the Radio create progress out of a possible deterrence.
No single member is recognized as the band’s leader, allowing everyone to contribute their own flair to each song. In terms of their stylistic range, this is TV on the Radio’s most reserved sound. But the lack of experimentation lets them create a very polished album. Dave Sitek production layers extremely well with Jaleel Bunton’s drumming, adding a more sophisticated ensemble of percussion to their repertoire.
But while the music may sound more refined, the band’s shared abilities aren’t utilized to their fullest extent, restricting a normally adventurous group to clean-cut riffs and less imaginative hooks.
While less abstract, Seeds is enjoyable and creates buoyant melodies that uplift the brooding moments of introspect. It’s rare to see a band stay cohesive after a tragic event, but TV on the Radio has shown their resolve, and hopefully, learned that death can be conquered through music.
Rating: B
