TV on the Radio

Although the Radio crew's talent is well established, the band's music has always raised user-friendliness questions: Sure, 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain was excellent, but did anyone other than rock critics listen to it? Dear Science tackles this conundrum head on, upping the accessibility quotient without smacking of sell-out desperation...

By Michael Roberts

September 25, 2008

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Although the Radio crew's talent is well established, the band's music has always raised user-friendliness questions: Sure, 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain was excellent, but did anyone other than rock critics listen to it? Dear Science tackles this conundrum head on, upping the accessibility quotient without smacking of sell-out desperation. "Crying," for instance, uses a shuffling dance beat, a burbling bass line, funky guitar and a Tunde Adebimpe vocal that shifts beguilingly into falsetto at the best possible moments — a tack that also distinguishes the coolly insinuating "Golden Age." Other tracks, including "Dancing Choose," will present greater challenges to the uninitiated, but they're hardly unapproachable. The result is a disc that should please fans even as it induces more people to tune in to TV on the Radio.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

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